Carpal tunnel syndrome as risk factor for subsequent development of irritable bowel syndrome: a retrospective cohort...

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are chronic syndromes that significantly impair quality of life. Despite their distinct clinical presentations, they share overlapping risk factors, particularly psychosocial status and obesity. We aimed to determine whether patients with CTS are at a higher risk of developing IBS compared to the general population. We conducted a large-scale retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, which aggregates de-identified electronic health records from over 120 healthcare organizations worldwide. Adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with CTS between 2018 and 2023 were included, while individuals with prior IBS, malignancy, or death before the index date were excluded. The control cohort comprised adults undergoing general medical examinations within the same period. Propensity score matching (1:1) was applied using nearest-neighbor algorithms with a 0.1 caliper, balancing key variables such as age, sex, race, body mass index, psychiatric comorbidities, and socioeconomic indicators. The primary endpoint was incident IBS identified by ICD-10-CM codes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Sensitivity analyses assessed varying wash-out periods, comparator diseases, and maximum follow-up durations. After propensity score matching, 502,764 patients were included in each group. Patients with CTS showed a significantly higher risk of IBS (HR = 1.616; 95% CI = 1.558-1.677), with the mean follow-up period of 4.6 years in CTS group. Similar association were observed sensitivity models. In stratified analyses, the association remained significant in all subgroups. For males, the HR was 1.570 (95% CI = 1.446-1.704), whereas among females, it was 1.612 (95% CI = 1.547-1.680). Patients aged 18-64 years had an HR of 1.709 (95% CI = 1.635-1.787), while those aged ≥ 65 years had an HR of 1.507 (95% CI = 1.408-1.613). CTS patients demonstrated a significantly higher risk of IBS comparing with non-CTS controls. Effective management of CTS requires careful attention to potential gastrointestinal comorbidities.