Individuals with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease may also be more likely to develop musculoskeletal conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, according to an article published in Verywell Health. In a new prospective study published by Hegmann et al in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, investigators analyzed the data of 1,224 patients who worked in the manufacturing, health-care, and food processing industries as well as in office environments. After a follow-up of 9 years, the investigators discovered that patients who had a 15% higher risk of cardiovascular disease were 4 times and 17 times more likely to develop one or more musculoskeletal disorders or four or more musculoskeletal disorders, respectively, compared with those who had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. While the exact mechanisms underpinning this link may require further examination, the investigators noted that there may be other contributing factors, such as reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to the shoulder joints and surrounding tissue—which may contribute to inflammation and pain. Additionally, shared inflammatory pathways between cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease may contribute to the development of shoulder pain in high-risk individuals. “[W]e need to test this hypothesis, as a predictive risk for identifying [individuals who may] need more aggressive cardiovascular [interventions] would be quite helpful clinically,” concluded lead study author Kurt Hegmann, MD, MPH, Director of the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.
July 27, 2023