Table 1

Demographics and related characteristics

Total N=2474NCTS
cases (n)
Gender*2474179
 Male1200 (48%)65
 Female1274 (52%)114
Age (years)2474179
 <30 years490 (20%)25
 ≥30 & <40 years614 (25%)39
 ≥40 & <50 years793 (32%)64
 ≥50 years577 (23%)51
Ethnicity†2151158
 Caucasian1267 (51%)112
 Hispanic509 (21%)16
 African American164 (7%)14
 Asian139 (6%)9
 Other72 (3%)7
Education2449175
 Some high school or less495 (20%)32
 High school graduate or above1954 (79%)143
Handedness2474179
 Left handed192 (8%)16
 Right handed2282 (92%)163
Body mass index*2462178
 Body mass index (<25)804 (33%)35
 Body mass index (≥25 & <30: overweight)826 (33%)59
 Body mass index (≥30: obese)832 (34%)84
General health†2041161
 Very good or excellent884 (36%)55
 Good881 (36%)83
 Fair or poor276 (11%)23
Medical condition2469179
 No medical condition2182 (88%)153
 Current medical condition287 (12%)26‡
  Diabetes99 (4%)7
  Rheumatoid arthritis54 (2%)5
  Thyroid disease (hyper/hypo)131 (5%)15
  Pregnancy19 (1%)0
Previous DUE disorder1830134
 No previous DUE1578 (64%)105
 Previous DUE252 (10%)29
Smoking status2459176
 Never smoked1344 (54%)93
 Currently smoke649 (26%)50
 Previously smoked466 (19%)33
Years worked at enrolment2455176
 ≤1 year262 (11%)17
 >1 & ≤3 years503 (20%)26
 >3 & ≤7 years564 (23%)46
 >7 & ≤12 years567 (23%)50
 >12 years559 (23%)37

  • Missing per cent for each characteristic represents missing data.

  • *p≤0.20 and retained in models.

  • †p≤0.20 but excluded from models due to missing >10% data.

  • ‡One participant had two medical conditions.

  • CTS, carpal tunnel syndrome; DUE, distal upper extremity.