Diabetes and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Metabolic Diseases
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a primary cause of disabling low back pain in adults.
• A potential link between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and IVDD is increasingly recognized, but causality is unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between T2DM and IVDD using a robust analytical approach.
• To determine if T2DM directly influences the risk of developing IVDD.

Main Methods:

• A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed.
• Genetic variants associated with T2DM served as instrumental variables.
• Sensitivity analyses, including multivariable MR adjusting for BMI, were performed to ensure result validity.

Main Results:

• The study found a statistically significant causal effect of T2DM on IVDD risk (OR, 1.069; 95% CI, 1.026-1.115; p = 0.002).
• This causal association persisted in multivariable MR analysis, indicating a direct effect independent of BMI (OR, 1.080; 95% CI, 1.041-1.121; p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Mendelian randomization analysis supports a causal link between T2DM and an increased risk of IVDD.
• The direct causal effect of T2DM on IVDD is evident, even when controlling for the influence of BMI.