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Causal associations between sarcopenia-related traits and intervertebral disc degeneration: a two-sample mendelian randomization analysis

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Abstract

Background

Sarcopenia (SP) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) have a higher incidence in the elderly population. Previous studies have indicated a potential association between SP and IVDD. The objective of this study is to elucidate the potential causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and IVDD through Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

We utilized a genome-wide association study conducted on the European population to collect aggregated data on sarcopenia and IVDD. Inverse variance weighting was primarily employed, supplemented by MR Egger, weighted median, simple model, and weighted model methods. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the findings.

Results

Appendicular lean mass is positively associated with “Other intervertebral disc disorders” (OIDD) and “Prolapsed or slipped disc” (POSD) (OIDD: p = 0.002, OR = 1.120; POSD: p < 0.001, OR = 1.003), while grip strength (GS) is positively associated with POSD (left: p = 0.004, OR = 1.008; right: p < 0.001, OR = 1.010). It is worth mentioning that walking pace has significant causal relationship with “Low back pain” (LBP), “Lower back pain or/and sciatica” (LBPOAS), “Sciatica with lumbago” (SWL) and OIDD (LBP: p < 0.001, OR = 0.204; LBPOAS: p < 0.001, OR = 0.278; SWL: p = 0.003, OR = 0.249; OIDD: p < 0.001, OR = 0.256).

Conclusion

The present study revealed the causal relationship between SP-related traits and IVDD and recommended to prevent and treat sarcopenia as a means of preventing IVDD in clinic practice.

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Abbreviations

MR:

Mendelian randomization analysis

IVs:

Instrumental variables

SP:

Sarcopenia

IVDD:

Intervertebral disc degeneration

EWGSOP:

European working group on sarcopenia in older people

AWGS:

Asian working group for Sarcopenia

SNPs:

Single nucleotide polymorphisms

GWAS:

Genome-wide association study

ALM:

Appendicular lean mass

GS:

Grip strength

WP:

Usual walking pace

OIDD:

Other intervertebral disc disorders

SWL:

Sciatica with lumbago

LBPOAS:

Lower back pain or/and sciatica

LBP:

Low back pain

POSD:

Prolapsed or slipped disc

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Funding

This research was supported by grant from the The Medical and Health Science and Technology Program of Hangzhou, China (No: A20220665).

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Author notes

  1. Weihui Qi, Zhenglin Mei and Xinning Mao have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310007, China

    Weihui Qi, Zhenglin Mei, Xinning Mao, Li Zhu, Yinyan Shao, Guofen Ge, Wei Zhang, Hao Pan & Dong Wang

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Hangzhou Dingqiao Hospital, Hangzhou, 310021, China

    Weihui Qi, Hao Pan & Dong Wang

  3. Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310007, China

    Weihui Qi, Hao Pan & Dong Wang

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  1. Weihui Qi
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  4. Li Zhu
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Contributions

WQ, ZM, XM, YW, LZ, YS, GG, WZ, DW and HP contributed to this study. WQ, HP and ZM contributed to the conception and design of this study. WQ, YS and XM collected data. WQ, DW and LZ performed the statistical analysis. WQ, GG, and DW wrote the manuscript. HP and YW supervised the entire study. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version. WQ, ZM and XM contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.

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Correspondence to Hao Pan or Dong Wang.

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Qi, W., Mei, Z., Mao, X. et al. Causal associations between sarcopenia-related traits and intervertebral disc degeneration: a two-sample mendelian randomization analysis. Eur Spine J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-024-08291-w

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