Influence of gender on nerve conduction velocity in healthy adults in urban population of a developing country

Background: Gender plays important role on amplitude, duration and latency of motor and sensory nerve conduction studies. Aims: To compare the effect of gender on nerve conduction properties of upper and lower limbs in Median and Tibial nerves in an urban population of eastern India. Materials and methods: 60 healthy adults (30 male and 30 female volunteers) in the age group of 18 to 60 years without any significant present or past systemic illness were selected for the study. Nerve Conduction Study of both Right and Left Median nerve in case of Upper Limbs and both Right and Left Tibial nerve in case of Lower Limb were performed. Results were analysed using SPSS version 16. Results: In right median nerve Proximal and Distal Latency were more in males; Proximal and Distal Amplitude were more in females; Nerve Conduction Velocity was more in males; F-Wave Latency was more in males.In left median nerve Proximal and Distal Latency were more in male; Proximal and Distal Amplitude were more in females; Nerve Conduction Velocity was more in males; F-Wave Latency was more in males. In right Tibial nerve Distal Latency was more in males; Proximal and Distal Amplitude were more in females; Nerve Conduction Velocity was more in males; F-Wave Latency was more in females.In left tibial nerve Distal Latency was significantly more in males; Proximal and Distal Amplitude were more in females; Nerve Conduction Velocity was more in males; F-Wave Latency was significantly more in females. Conclusions: The Nerve Conduction Study Parametersvaries according to gender. This variation is due to difference in Height, Limb Length, Weight, BMI, Thickness and Density of subcutaneous tissue, Muscle Mass. Influence of gender must be taken into consideration during Nerve Conduction Study and establishing normative data for reference value of Neurophysiological Laboratories for different population remains essential.