SynthesisOrthopaedic surgery2023
The Genetic Causal Association between Educational Attainment and Risk of 12 Common Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization.
Synthesis in Orthopaedic surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Causal risk and protective factors for rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive mendelian randomization systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in genetics · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Mendelian randomization studies of risk and protective factors for osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Pooled it
- Genetic and epidemiological evidence linking respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases: shared risk factors and intervention windows.Respiratory research · 2026Article
- Metabolic Syndrome and Low Back Pain: Evidence from Cross-Sectional and Mendelian Randomization Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Adolescent health behaviors, family socioeconomic status and health as risk factors for tendon ruptures in adulthood: a longitudinal study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Article
- Mediating Effects of Immunophenotypes on the Causal Relationship of Gut Microbiota and Their Metabolic Pathways With Osteonecrosis: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.Mediators of inflammation · 2025Article
- Article
- Exploring Causal Relationships between Leukocyte Telomere Length, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Levels, and Osteoporosis Using Univariable and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization.Orthopaedic surgery · 2024Article
- Perspective Exploring Novel Associations of IL-18 Levels as a Mediator of the Causal Links between Major Depression and Reproductive Health.Depression and anxiety · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveIn numerous observational studies, there has been an indication that educational attainment (EA) can impact the intensity of pain and disability resulting from chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Nonetheless, the association observed in these studies is not entirely conclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic causal relationship between educational attainment and 12 musculoskeletal disorders using Mendelian randomization (MR).
methodsThe meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 3952 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with educational attainment (EA) from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium (SSGAC). Genetic data for 12 musculoskeletal disorders, including osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, low back pain, gout, spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, meniscus derangement, rotator cuff syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, cervicobrachial syndrome, and lateral epicondylitis, were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to examine the causal effect of EA on the risk of these musculoskeletal disorders using the TwoSampleMR package in R.
resultsBased on the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, we found that a genetically predicted per standard deviation (SD) increase in EA was inversely associated with low back pain [odds ratio (OR) 0.46, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.51-0.61, p < 0.001], spinal stenosis (OR 0.62, 95% Cl 0.54-0.71, p < 0.001), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 0.65, 95% Cl 0.55-0.76, p < 0.001), meniscus derangement (OR 0.73, 95% Cl 0.65-0.82, p < 0.001), rotator cuff syndrome (OR 0.55, 95% Cl 0.49-0.61, p < 0.001), cervicobrachial syndrome (OR 0.50, 95% Cl 0.42-0.60, p < 0.001), and lateral epicondylitis (OR 0.30, 95% Cl 0.24-0.37, p < 0.001). There was no causal association between EA and osteonecrosis (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.76-1.72, p = 0.60), osteoporosis (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.65-1.27, p = 0.59), or osteomyelitis (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.75-1.01, p = 0.22). Genetic predisposition to EA had a suggestive causal association with gout (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.95, p = 0.01) and ankylosing spondylitis (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.91, p = 0.01) after Bonferroni correction. None of the analyses revealed any horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity.
conclusionIn our investigation, we have uncovered evidence supporting a causal relationship between low level of EA and the incidence of certain musculoskeletal disorders. In the future, it is imperative to ascertain risk factors such as lifestyle patterns linked with EA to uncover the underlying causal relationship and offer informed interventions for individuals.
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