Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy Associated With Fewer Diagnoses of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Within 2 Years of Treatment

📖 Top 30% JournalSep 3, 2025Hand (New York, N.Y.)

Treatment with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Linked to Fewer Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnoses Within Two Years

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Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 therapy significantly reduced 2-year carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis risk (odds ratio 0.49).

Diabetic patients on GLP-1 therapy had a lower incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to those not on therapy.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, depression, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis are independent risk factors for increased CTS incidence.
Patients who developed CTS while on GLP-1 therapy had higher odds of undergoing carpal tunnel release surgery.

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BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) are approved for type 2 diabetes treatment. Given the link between diabetes-associated metabolic inflammation and increased carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) risk, the aim of this study was to investigate development of CTS in diabetic patients who both were and were not taking GLP-1 therapy using a large claims database.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study used a national claims database to identify diabetic patients. Those prescribed GLP-1 therapy were matched to controls by age, sex, comorbidity index, tobacco use, and obesity. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the 2-year CTS incidence, controlling for various health conditions and socioeconomic factors. Secondary analysis also evaluated the rate of carpal tunnel release (CTR) after being diagnosed with CTS.

RESULTS: Glucagon-like peptide-1 therapy significantly reduced 2-year CTS diagnosis risk (odds ratio [OR] 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46-0.52;< .001). Independent risk factors for increased CTS incidence included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, depression, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of patients who developed CTS, GLP-1 therapy was associated with increased odds of undergoing CTR (OR 1.23; 95% CI: 1.08-1.41;= .002). P P

CONCLUSIONS: Glucagon-like peptide-1 therapy is associated with decreased CTS risk in diabetic patients-potentially due to improved metabolic health-and increased odds of undergoing CTR once diagnosed. Further research is needed to clarify GLP-1 therapy's role in reducing nervous system and musculoskeletal disease burden.

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