Peer-reviewed research
Prevalence, course and determinants of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms during pregnancy: a prospective study
M Meems et al., BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2015 · DOI 10.1111/1471-0528.13360
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- A prospective cohort of 639 Dutch women who were followed through pregnancy and the first postpartum week, using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire to record symptoms.
- How much weight it carries
- Prospective and reasonably large, with symptoms measured by a validated questionnaire. Based on self-report rather than nerve tests, in one country, so it measures symptoms rather than confirmed nerve compression.
Facts taken from this source
- In a Dutch cohort of 639 pregnant women, higher fluid retention throughout pregnancy was significantly related to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, with an odds ratio of 1.8.
“Higher scores on fluid retention throughout the pregnancy were significantly related to CTS (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.5, 2.1, P < 0.001).” (Results)
- In a Dutch cohort of 639 pregnant women, 34 percent reported carpal tunnel symptoms during pregnancy.
“Of the 639 women, 219 (34%) reported CTS symptoms during pregnancy.” (Results)