Risk factors of lateral epicondylitis: A meta-analysis

Lateral Epicondylitis is commonly associated with numerous anatomical and mechanical risk factors. Thus far, there have been no reviews synthesising the risk factors of lateral epicondylitis. We hence aimed to perform a meta-analysis of factors associated with lateral epicondylitis.

We searched MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science for 1032 articles. Eventually, based on our exclusion criteria, we had 33 articles remaining for our systematic review. 15 of these articles were used for our meta-analysis. Data was analysed using Mantel-Haenszel statistics and random effect models where appropriate.

Females had a 1.29 times higher odds of sustaining lateral epicondylitis (OR Males: Females = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.67-0.89, Z = 3.52, I² = 33%, p < 0.001). The odds of an individual with a current or past tobacco smoking history sustaining lateral epicondylitis was 1.49 times that of an individual with no tobacco smoking history (95% CI = 1.18-1.87, Z = 3.40, I² = 0%, p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in sustaining lateral epicondylitis when comparing individuals with a current tobacco smoking history to individuals with a past or no tobacco smoking history (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.91-1.51, Z = 1.26, I² = 0%, p = 0.21). Neither was there a statistical difference in sustaining lateral epicondylitis when comparing individuals with a BM ≥ 25 to those with a BMI<25 (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.69-1.83, Z = 0.46, I² = 62%, p = 0.65).

Female gender and a positive and past smoking history were associated with lateral epicondylitis. Further studies should focus on identifying other associations with lateral epicondylitis and the pathophysiological explanation of such associations.