Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42162140›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Carpal tunnel syndrome as risk factor for subsequent development of irritable bowel syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

Hui-Chin Chang, Yu-Wen Chang, Yu-Jung Su, Meng-Che Wu, Shiu-Jau Chen, Shuo-Yan Gau

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hui-Chin ChangEvidence-Based Medicine Center, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yu-Wen ChangSchool of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yu-Jung SuOrthopedics Department, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
Meng-Che Wu *School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Shiu-Jau Chen *Department of Neurosurgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei, 104217, Taiwan. Chenshiujau@gmail.com.
Shuo-Yan GauDepartment of Medical Education, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan.

Funding

Chung Shan Medical University Hospital CSH-2025-C-007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are chronic syndromes that significantly impair quality of life. Despite their distinct clinical presentations, they share overlapping risk factors, particularly psychosocial status and obesity. We aimed to determine whether patients with CTS are at a higher risk of developing IBS compared to the general population. We conducted a large-scale retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, which aggregates de-identified electronic health records from over 120 healthcare organizations worldwide. Adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with CTS between 2018 and 2023 were included, while individuals with prior IBS, malignancy, or death before the index date were excluded. The control cohort comprised adults undergoing general medical examinations within the same period. Propensity score matching (1:1) was applied using nearest-neighbor algorithms with a 0.1 caliper, balancing key variables such as age, sex, race, body mass index, psychiatric comorbidities, and socioeconomic indicators. The primary endpoint was incident IBS identified by ICD-10-CM codes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Sensitivity analyses assessed varying wash-out periods, comparator diseases, and maximum follow-up durations. After propensity score matching, 502,764 patients were included in each group. Patients with CTS showed a significantly higher risk of IBS (HR = 1.616; 95% CI = 1.558-1.677), with the mean follow-up period of 4.6 years in CTS group. Similar association were observed sensitivity models. In stratified analyses, the association remained significant in all subgroups. For males, the HR was 1.570 (95% CI = 1.446-1.704), whereas among females, it was 1.612 (95% CI = 1.547-1.680). Patients aged 18-64 years had an HR of 1.709 (95% CI = 1.635-1.787), while those aged ≥ 65 years had an HR of 1.507 (95% CI = 1.408-1.613). CTS patients demonstrated a significantly higher risk of IBS comparing with non-CTS controls. Effective management of CTS requires careful attention to potential gastrointestinal comorbidities.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeIrritable Bowel SyndromeAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID42162140
PMCPMC13389361

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.