Occupational cold exposure and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome – a population-based study

Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the study participants

Variable	Categories	Carpal tunnel syndrome		References
Variable	Categories	N	%	N	%
Participants	None	453	9.2 ^a	4,456	90.8 ^a
Gender	Male	180	39.7	2,078	46.6
Gender	Female	273	60.3	2,378	53.4
Age group (years)	18–31	9	2.3	207	5.7
	32–44	44	11.2	618	16.9
	45–57	136	34.6	1,115	30.6
	58–70	204	51.9	1,708	46.8
Body mass index (kg/m²)	BMI < 18.5	6	1.4	36	0.8
	18.5 ≤ BMI < 25	133	30.0	1,881	43.1
	25 ≤ BMI < 30	191	43.1	1,707	39.2
	BMI ≥ 30	113	25.5	736	16.9
Current daily smoking	Yes	21	4.6	165	3.7
Current daily smoking	No	431	95.4	4,260	96.3
Geographical location	Coastal	211	46.6	2,438	54.7
	Inland	126	27.8	1,138	25.5
	Alpine	116	25.6	880	19.7
Occupational group ^b	Service and sales workers	83	18.9	518	11.9
	Professionals	70	15.9	1,003	23.0
	Retired	61	13.9	664	15.2
	Technicians and associate professionals	44	10.0	545	12.5
	Plant and machine operator	41	9.3	241	5.5
	Clerical support workers	37	8.4	431	9.9
	Crafts workers	31	7.1	202	4.6
	Managers	18	4.1	240	5.5
	Self-employed	14	3.2	82	1.9
	Sick or parental leave	14	3.2	61	1.4
	Manual workers	13	3.0	85	1.9
	Agricultural and fishery workers	5	1.1	56	1.3
	Unemployed	5	1.1	69	1.6
	Students	3	0.7	149	3.4
	Professional militaries	0	0	18	0.4

^aColumn percentage
^bAccording to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08)

ISSN: 1471-2474