Management and Nursing Approaches to Low Back Pain: Investigating the Causal Association with Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors

Background

Notwithstanding a plethora of observational studies, the causal implications of obesity, encompassing both body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D), and lifestyle factors, in relation to the vulnerability to low back pain (LBP), remain enigmatic.

Aims

This study was designed to investigate the related causal associations

Design

A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Settings

By utilizing genetic variants associated with pertinent factors gleaned from genome-wide association studies (GWASs), We extracted independent genetic variants about exposures such as BMI, WC, T2D, smoking, alcohol consumption, and coffee intake from published GWASs, ensuring their genome-wide significance.

Participants/Subjects

The GWASs were selected from the most up-to-date and largest publicly accessible databases.

Methods

The summary data concerning LBP emanated from a GWAS of European cases and controls, which was based on the esteemed MRC-IEU (Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit) consortium.

Results

Heightened body mass index and waist circumference exhibited odds ratios of 1.003 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.002–1.004, p < 0.001) and 1.003 (95% CI = 1.002–1.004, p < 0.001) for LBP, respectively, per each standard deviation (SD) increase. As for smoking initiation and every SD increase in the frequency of alcohol intake, the odds ratios were 1.002 (95% CI = 1.001–1.003, p = 0.003) and 1.002 (95% CI = 1.000–1.003, p = 0.011), respectively, for LBP. Conversely, an increased log odds ratio for T2D, and prevalence of coffee intake, divulged no discernible causal effects on the risk of LBP.

Conclusion

This study provides suggestive evidence to support the causal involvement of obesity, smoking, and the frequency of alcohol intake in the development of LBP, which suggests that implementing measures to mitigate these risk factors may aid in preventing LBP.