Lumbar Disc Degeneration Is Linked to Dorsal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness at the L1-L2 Intervertebral Disc Level Measured by MRI.

Background: Obese individuals have a higher risk of degenerative disc disease (DDD). Currently, body mass index is not sensitive enough to differentiate between muscle and fat distribution, and obesity-related health issues are linked to the way body fat is distributed. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the dorsal subcutaneous fat thickness (DSFT) of the lumbar spine, an alternative measurement tool of body fat distribution, and DDD.

Methods: A total of 301 patients with DDD and 123 participants without the disease were recruited. Using length functions of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) console, the DSFT of L1 to S1 intervertebral disc levels was measured in mid-sagittal spin-echo T2 weighted image. The Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test (X2) were utilized to examine any variations between the case and control groups. Logistic regression models were built to explore the association of the DSFT with DDD.

Results: The logistical regression model showed a positive association between DDD and DSFT [OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.64, p = 0.03]. In the stratified logistic regression analysis, a positive association was found between DDD and DSFT among younger participants and females [OR _young: 1.48; 95% CI (1.02-2.20); p = 0.04-OR _female: 1.37; 95% CI (1-1.88); p = 0.05].

Conclusions: Younger females with thicker DSFT at the L1-L2 level are more likely to develop DDD. This suggests that increased DSFT may be a contributing factor to DDD.