Ferry S, Pritchard T, Keenan J, Croft P, Silman A J
ARC Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Manchester.
Br J Rheumatol. 1998 Jun;37(6):630-5. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/37.6.630.
The objectives of this study were to determine the point prevalence of neurophysiologically defined median nerve compression and associated carpal tunnel syndrome in a random sample of the general population. The design was a two-stage screening study: (i) a cross-sectional survey to estimate the point prevalence of current hand symptoms; (ii) nerve conduction testing of the median nerve in weighted samples of the survey respondents. The target study population was a random sample of 1000 adults aged between 18 and 75 yr registered with a family practice in the UK. A mailed questionnaire enquired about hand symptoms on the day and included various demographic questions. Weighted random samples were taken based on the hand symptoms reported, and the subjects were invited to attend for motor and sensory median nerve conduction testing. A neurophysiological diagnosis of median nerve compression was made based on a number of different cut-offs using published criteria. Of those receiving a questionnaire, 79% responded. A total of 250 responders were invited to attend for nerve conduction testing, of whom 155 (62%) attended. Non-response to the questionnaire and non-attendance for nerve conduction testing may have biased the prevalence estimates. After adjustment for such biases, a prevalence estimate of between 7 and 16% was obtained, varying with the different cut-offs used to define delayed median nerve conduction. Subjects over 54 yr of age had a higher prevalence than younger participants. There was no difference in prevalence estimates between men and women. The conclusion reached was that carpal tunnel syndrome, as assessed by delayed median nerve conduction, is common in the general population.
本研究的目的是确定普通人群随机样本中神经生理学定义的正中神经受压及相关腕管综合征的时点患病率。研究设计为两阶段筛查研究：（i）横断面调查以估计当前手部症状的时点患病率；（ii）对调查对象加权样本中的正中神经进行神经传导测试。目标研究人群是在英国一家家庭诊所登记的1000名年龄在18至75岁之间的成年人随机样本。一份邮寄问卷询问了当天的手部症状，并包含各种人口统计学问题。根据报告的手部症状抽取加权随机样本，并邀请受试者参加正中神经运动和感觉神经传导测试。根据已发表的标准，使用多种不同的临界值对正中神经受压进行神经生理学诊断。在收到问卷的人中，79%做出了回应。总共邀请了250名回应者参加神经传导测试，其中155人（62%）参加了测试。未回复问卷和未参加神经传导测试可能会使患病率估计产生偏差。在对这些偏差进行校正后，获得的患病率估计值在7%至16%之间，因用于定义正中神经传导延迟的不同临界值而异。54岁以上的受试者患病率高于年轻参与者。男性和女性的患病率估计没有差异。得出的结论是，通过正中神经传导延迟评估的腕管综合征在普通人群中很常见。
