Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40093966›Full record

ArticleClinical epidemiology2025

Hospital-Treated Infections and 15-year Incidence of Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Large Population-Based Cohort Study.

Yaqing Gao, Dylan McGagh, Lei Ding, Shenda Hong, Zhengxiao Ouyang, Jie Wei, Chao Zeng, Guanghua Lei, Junqing Xie

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yaqing GaoNuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Dylan McGaghCentre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Lei DingState Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Shenda HongNational Institute of Health Data Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Zhengxiao OuyangDepartment of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0002-8997-0446
Jie WeiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
Chao ZengDepartment of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
Guanghua LeiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
Junqing XieCentre for Statistics in Medicine and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Basic science evidence reveals interactions between the immune and bone systems. However, population studies linking infectious diseases and musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are limited and inconsistent. We aimed to examine the risk of six main MSK disorders (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, gout, low back pain, and neck pain) following hospital-treated infections in a large cohort with long follow-up periods. Methods: We analysed data from 502,409 UK Biobank participants. Participants free of specific MSK disorders at baseline were included in each analysis. Hospital-treated infections before baseline were identified using national inpatient data, while incident MSK outcomes were ascertained from inpatient records, primary care, and death registers. Participants with prior infections were propensity score matched (1:5) with those without. Hazard ratios (HRs) and absolute rate differences (ARDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. To assess potential reverse causality due to delayed diagnosis of preexisting illness, analyses were repeated excluding MSK disorder cases that occurred within the first 5 and 10 years post-baseline. Results: A hospital-treated infection was associated with increased risks of all six MSK disorders, with particularly strong associations for osteoporosis (HR, 1.55 [1.48-1.63]; ARD, 1.48 [95% CI 1.29-1.68] per 1000 person-years) and rheumatoid arthritis (HR, 1.53 [1.41-1.65]; ARD, 0.58 [0.46-0.71] per 1000 person-years), while other disorders showed HRs of 1.28-1.32. Bacterial and viral infections showed similar associations, with MSK infections (generally stronger risk) and other locations both linked to increased risks. Associations remained significant even for incident cases that occurred more than 10 years post-baseline. Conclusion: Hospital-treated infections are associated with long-term MSK disorder risks, regardless of pathogen type or disorder nature (inflammatory or degenerative). Long-term monitoring and care for MSK health in patients with prior hospital-treated infections are recommended.

Indexed as

goutinfectious diseaselow back painosteoarthritisosteoporosisrheumatoid arthritis

Identifiers

PMID40093966
PMCPMC11910040

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