Walking pace is a protective factor for rheumatoid arthritis: a mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Walking pace is a key health indicator, but its causal link to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear.
• Understanding modifiable risk factors like walking pace is crucial for RA prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal effect of walking pace (WP) on the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) and observational data for robust evidence.

Main Methods:

• Selected genetic variants associated with walking pace as instrumental variables from genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
• Employed inverse-variance weighted (IVW) and multivariable MR (MVMR) with Bayesian model averaging for primary analysis.
• Incorporated confounders like BMI, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes; validated findings with UK Biobank observational data.

Main Results:

• MR analysis revealed a significant inverse association between genetically predicted walking pace and RA risk (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15–0.62).
• MVMR adjusting for confounders did not substantially alter the protective effect of walking pace on RA.
• Observational data from UK Biobank corroborated the inverse relationship between walking pace and RA incidence.

Conclusions:

• Mendelian randomization and observational evidence strongly suggest that a faster walking pace is a protective factor against rheumatoid arthritis.
• Walking pace represents a potentially pragmatic and accessible target for interventions aimed at preventing rheumatoid arthritis.