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Low back and common widespread pain share common genetic determinants
Ida Malkin1, Frances M K Williams, Genevieve LaChance
1Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Annals of Human Genetics
|June 26, 2014
Summary
Genetic factors significantly contribute to low back pain (LBP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP). Shared genetic influences explain a substantial portion of both conditions, with body mass index (BMI) playing a less critical role.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pain Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP) are common conditions with known genetic components and associations with increased body mass index (BMI).
- Understanding shared genetic factors between LBP and CWP, and the influence of BMI on these relationships, is crucial for comprehensive pain management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the shared genetic factors underlying low back pain (LBP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP).
- To determine the extent to which genetic factors influencing BMI modify the genetic correlation between LBP and CWP.
- To quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to LBP and CWP, considering age and BMI dependence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Falconer's polygenic threshold concept for dichotomous traits inheritance.
- Developed novel software to analyze genetic influences on LBP and CWP under age and BMI dependence.
- Conducted analysis on a UK twin cohort (3266 for LBP, 2256 for CWP).
Main Results:
- Substantial genetic contributions to the variation of LBP and CWP were identified (heritability > 0.60).
- Significant genetic covariation between LBP and CWP was observed (p=3.1E-08).
- Shared genetic effects accounted for 39% of CWP heritability and 70% of LBP heritability; BMI's contribution was statistically significant but not determinative.
Conclusions:
- Low back pain and chronic widespread pain share significant common genetic factors.
- While BMI is associated with these pain conditions, its genetic influence on their covariation is not the primary driver.
- Both genetic and shared environmental factors play substantial roles in the etiology of LBP and CWP.
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