Evaluation of the relationship between hemoglobin A1C and the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluation the relationship between hemoglobin A1C levels and the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome in diabetic patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients referred to endocrine and internal medicine clinics of Baqiyatallah Hospital who were diagnosed with diabetes and were receiving drug or insulin therapy were studied according to the Diagnostic criteria by the American Diabetes Association (ADA criteria). Patients' CTS severity was assessed according to HbA1C laboratory results and EMG / NCV test. Three questionnaires were completed for all participants: demographic information (height, weight, age, BMI, duration of diabetes, history of smoking and alcohol use, and history of other underlying diseases), Neuropathy disability score (NDS) (to assess nerve fiber damage, muscle strength, reflex loss, and loss of sensation), and Diabetic neuropathy symptoms (DNS) (for pain, numbness, tingling). The results were statistically analyzed. Results The study group consisted of 44 men and 16 women. 47 had type 2 diabetes and 13 had type 1 diabetes. The mean age of participants was 53.22 ± 7.28 years, the mean duration of diabetes was 11.2 ± 8.8 years, the mean duration of neuropathic symptoms was 2.9 ± 3.8 years, and the mean serum Hb A1C level of the subjects was 6.91 ± 1.38. The majority of subjects had mild CTS severity (30 out of 60). There was a statistically significant relationship between CTS severity and hemoglobin A1C levels in diabetic patients (P = 0.014). Conclusion The results of the study showed that the level of hemoglobin A1C has an effect on the severity of CTS. There was a statistically significant relationship between serum Hb A1C levels and CTS severity. The intensity of CTS increases with increasing hemoglobin A1C levels.