Hand disorders demographics in rural areas: A 15-year analysis of demographic characteristics overtime in a stable population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of hand disorders in a general rural area, record the demographic characteristics for each condition, and evaluate the tendencies overtime in the incidence of these conditions.

METHODS

Using nationwide census data, we identified a health network system serving a geographic area with stable population. Subsequently, we retrospectively analyzed all the patient records (n=731 patients) with hand disorders documented between 2001 and 2015. We performed a retrospective review and collected demographic data for the patients and disorders treated surgically. We calculated the incidence of these conditions based on the census data and performed qualitative and categorical analysis with different demographic and disease-related variables.

RESULTS

We reviewed surgically treated 204 male and 527 female patients with hand disorders. The mean annual incidence was 222.5 cases per 100,000 individuals per year. More than 55% of the patients were between 50 and 69 years old. Trigger finger (TF) accounted for approximately 42% of patients, followed by 35% with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). TF and CTS were related to hand dominance, and right hand was affected in 53.4% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Hand disorders in a rural area seem to correlate with the occupational sector activities, such as farming and agriculture. CTS was the most common disorder in the past; however, the dramatic increase in the incidence rate of TF made it the most common hand disorder in the last decade. Incidence rates in both males and females showed an increasing trend.