Lumina: Indonesian Journal of Neurology
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): April: Lumina: Indonesian Journal of Neurology

The Association Between Body Mass Index and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Medical Students of Universitas Pelita Harapan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Riona Sutanto (Universitas Pelita Harapan)
Vivien Puspitasari (Universitas Pelita Harapan)
Astra Dea Simanungkalit (Universitas Pelita Harapan)
Pricilla Yani Gunawan (Universitas Pelita Harapan)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Apr 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common entrapment neuropathies, though its exact cause remains unclear.  Obesity has been identified as a potential risk factor, but previous studies have reported inconsistent findings.  This study aimed to analyze the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and CTS among pre-clinical medical students at Universitas Pelita Harapan. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) to assess symptom severity and functional status.  Body weight and height were self-reported via questionnaire to calculate BMI. Bivariate analyses are used to examine the association statistically, followed by stratified analyses to assess potential confounding factors. Results: A total of 201 participants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study. Among them, 7.5% of the subjects presented with symptoms of CTS, and 5.0% experienced functional impairment. The association between BMI and CTS based on the severity of symptoms and functional status impairment was found to be significant (p = 0.004 and 0.049, respectively). Conclusion: Higher BMI was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of CTS symptoms and functional impairment. Gender and a history of diabetes mellitus were identified as potential confounding factors. Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Body Mass Index, Obesity

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Journal Info

Abbrev

lumina

Publisher

Subject

Description

Focus and Scope Lumina: Indonesian Journal of Neurology is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the field of neurological sciences, with a focus on both basic neuroscience and clinical neurology. The journal publishes original research, reviews, and intriguing case reports. ...