Scientists from the pharmaceutical company IQVIA have discovered that carpal tunnel syndrome can be a harbinger of heart failure in the elderly. The research was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The study’s authors reviewed data from 164,000 patients aged 60 and over. The analysis showed that those with carpal tunnel syndrome had an almost 50% higher risk of heart failure.
The results mean that carpal tunnel syndrome can be a useful early indicator of heart failure. However, there is no direct link between these diseases, so there is no reason yet to check for heart failure in all patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand disorder caused by compression of the nerves running through the wrist. Symptoms include pain, numbness, burning and tingling sensations in the fingers. Often the disease develops in people who make monotonous hand movements. If left untreated, the disease can lead to irreversible hand dysfunction. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used for treatment, and if ineffective, surgery is performed.
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