• Poul Frost, Birger Johnsen, Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen, and Susanne W Svendsen.
• Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
• Muscle Nerve. 2013 Oct 1; 48 (4): 507-15.

IntroductionWe examined whether lifestyle factors differ between patients with ulnar neuropathy confirmed by electroneurography (ENG) and those with ulnar neuropathy-like symptoms with normal ulnar nerve ENG.MethodsAmong patients examined by ENG for suspected ulnar neuropathy, we identified 546 patients with ulnar neuropathy and 633 patients with ulnar neuropathy-like symptoms. These groups were compared with 2 separate groups of matched community referents and to each other. Questionnaire information on lifestyle was obtained. The electrophysiological severity of neuropathy was also graded. We used conditional and unconditional logistic regression.ResultsResponses were obtained from 59%. Ulnar neuropathy was related to smoking, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.43-7.64) for >24 pack-years. Ulnar neuropathy-like symptoms were related to body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2), OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.25-3.19). Smoking was associated with increased severity of ulnar neuropathy.ConclusionsFindings suggest that smoking specifically affects the ulnar nerve.Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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