OBJECTIVE: To study the association between overweight and lumbar disc degeneration. DESIGN: Population-based 4-y follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 129 working middle-aged men selected to the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study from a cohort of 1832 men representing three occupations: machine drivers, construction carpenters, and office workers. The selection was based on the paticipants' age (40-45 y) and place of residence. MR images of the lumbar spines were obtained at baseline and at 4-y follow-up. MEASUREMENTS: Signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of the discs L2/L3-L4/L5 was visually assessed by two readers using the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid as an intensity reference. The weight (at age 25 and 40-45 y) and height of the subjects, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses allowing for occupation, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries showed that persistent overweight (body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m(2) at both ages) associated strongly with an increased risk of the number of lumbar discs with decreased signal intensity of nucleus pulposus at follow-up, adjusted odds ratio (OR) being 4.3 (95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) 1.3-14.3). Overweight at young age (risk ratio (RR) 3.8; 95% CI 1.4-10.4) was a stronger predictor of an increase in the number of degenerated discs during follow-up than overweight in middle age (RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.7-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that the BMI above 25 kg/m(2) increases the risk of lumbar disc degeneration. Overweight at young age seems to be particularly detrimental.
OBJECTIVE: To study the association between overweight and lumbar disc degeneration. DESIGN: Population-based 4-y follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 129 working middle-aged men selected to the baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study from a cohort of 1832 men representing three occupations: machine drivers, construction carpenters, and office workers. The selection was based on the paticipants' age (40-45 y) and place of residence. MR images of the lumbar spines were obtained at baseline and at 4-y follow-up. MEASUREMENTS: Signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of the discs L2/L3-L4/L5 was visually assessed by two readers using the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid as an intensity reference. The weight (at age 25 and 40-45 y) and height of the subjects, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses allowing for occupation, history of car driving, smoking, and back injuries showed that persistent overweight (body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m(2) at both ages) associated strongly with an increased risk of the number of lumbar discs with decreased signal intensity of nucleus pulposus at follow-up, adjusted odds ratio (OR) being 4.3 (95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) 1.3-14.3). Overweight at young age (risk ratio (RR) 3.8; 95% CI 1.4-10.4) was a stronger predictor of an increase in the number of degenerated discs during follow-up than overweight in middle age (RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.7-2.7). CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence that the BMI above 25 kg/m(2) increases the risk of lumbar disc degeneration. Overweight at young age seems to be particularly detrimental.
Authors: Kevin J McGuire; Mohammed A Khaleel; Jeffrey A Rihn; Jon D Lurie; Wenyan Zhao; James N Weinstein Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2014-11-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Tue Secher Jensen; Per Kjaer; Lars Korsholm; Tom Bendix; Joan S Sorensen; Claus Manniche; Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2009-11-18 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Benjamin J Keeney; Deborah Fulton-Kehoe; Thomas M Wickizer; Judith A Turner; Kwun Chuen Gary Chan; Gary M Franklin Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 2.162