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. 2023 May 5;102(18):e33710.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033710.

How to reduce the risk of cervicalgia and low back pain in obese individuals: A mendelian randomization study

Li Gou  1 , Qiang Zheng  2
Affiliations

How to reduce the risk of cervicalgia and low back pain in obese individuals: A mendelian randomization study

Li Gou et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Abstract

Obesity is associated with cervicalgia and low back pain (LBP), but the specific role and how to reduce the risk of neck pain and low back pain are not clear. The Mendelian randomization analysis was used to investigate the causal relationship between obesity and cervicalgia and LBP, as well as the effect of possible mediating factors. Then, causal associations were estimated using sensitivity analysis. Educational level (odds ratio (OR) = 0.30, 0.23) was negatively associated with cervicalgia and LBP; Heavy physical work (HPW) (OR = 3.24, 2.18), major depression (MD) (OR = 1.47, 1.32), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.36, 1.32), and waist circumference (WC) (OR = 1.32, 1.35) were positively associated with cervicalgia and LBP; Leisure sedentary behavior (LSB) (OR = 1.96), smoking (OR = 1.32), and alcohol intake frequency (OR = 1.34) were positively associated only with LBP, but not with cervicalgia. Ranked by mediated proportions of selected mediators, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to cervicalgia was educational level (38.20%, 38.20%), followed by HPW (22.90%, 24.70%), and MD (9.20%, 17.90%); However, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to LBP was LSB (55.10%, 50.10%), followed by educational level (46.40%, 40.20%), HPW (28.30%, 20.90%), smoking initiation (26.60%, 32.30%), alcohol intake frequency (20.40%, 6.90%), and MD (10.00%, 11.40%). For obese individuals, avoiding HPW and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent cervicalgia; Additionally, reducing LSB, avoiding HPW, quitting smoking and drinking, and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent LBP.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
An overview of the analytical plan. AIF = alcohol intake frequency, BMI = body mass index, HPW = heavy physical work, LSB = leisure sedentary behavior, LBP = low back pain, MD = major depression, WC = waist circumference.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
MR Analysis of BMI, WC, and mediating factors with cervicalgia and LBP. AIF = alcohol intake frequency, BMI = body mass index, HPW = heavy physical work, LSB = leisure sedentary behavior, LBP = low back pain, MD = major depression, MR = Mendelian randomization, WC = waist circumference.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
MR Analysis of BMI and WC with mediating factors. AIF = alcohol intake frequency, BMI = body mass index, HPW = heavy physical work, LSB = leisure sedentary behavior, MD = major depression, MR = Mendelian randomization, WC = waist circumference.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mediation MR Analysis of mediating factors with BMI and WC. AIF = alcohol intake frequency, BMI = body mass index, HPW = heavy physical work, LSB = leisure sedentary behavior, LBP = low back pain, MD = major depression, MR = Mendelian randomization, WC = waist circumference.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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