Prevalence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Pregnancy and Associated Risk Factors at Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

The carpal tunnel is a short canal in the forearm's anterior section that connects the wrist to the palm. This tunnel is frequently prone to pathological compression, resulting in compressive neuropathy and the symptoms and signs recognized as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

This is a cross-sectional survey assessing the prevalence of CTS in pregnant women. The symptoms and level of awareness of CTS among pregnant women in Abdullah Bin Omran Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates was assessed by a questionnaire incorporating the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, which was followed by clinical tests to diagnose CTS in women with symptoms.

A total of 273 women participated in the study. Most women were between 20 and 40 years of age, Asians, and more than 50% did household work. This was the second and third pregnancy for the majority and 80.5% of them were in the third trimester. The prevalence of CTS was 30%, and the most common symptoms were weakness (20.3%) followed by wrist pain. Age between 20 and 40 years, being Asian, being 2nd or third gravida, and being in the 3rd trimester were significantly associated with severity.

Despite the high prevalence of CTS in pregnancy, the awareness of CTS was low. There is a need to create the awareness of the condition in pregnant women to improve their quality of life and implement appropriate management strategies.