ReviewEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026
The role of sleep and circadian rhythms in intervertebral disc degeneration.
Review in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeLow back pain is a globally prevalent disabling condition, with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) as a key inducer. Sleep abnormalities and circadian rhythm disorders are widespread, but their bidirectional associations with IDD and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. This narrative review synthesizes existing studies to clarify the mutual regulatory relationship and corresponding intervention strategies.
methodsA structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from database inception through November 2025. Peer-reviewed original research and review articles were included, while conference abstracts, case reports, editorials and non-English manuscripts were excluded. Two independent reviewers performed title/abstract screening and full-text assessment, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer.
resultsSleep and circadian disturbances promote IDD via five interconnected pathways: peripheral circadian clock disruption, mechanical/osmotic rhythm dysregulation, inflammation and oxidative stress imbalance, autophagy dysfunction, and hormonal rhythm dysregulation. Reciprocally, IDD further disrupts sleep homeostasis through pain signals, emotional-cognitive mediation and behavioral alterations, forming a vicious cycle. Three evidence-based interventions (CBT-I, exogenous melatonin and morning bright light therapy) exert dual benefits on sleep improvement and IDD alleviation.
conclusionSleep and circadian rhythms drive a bidirectional vicious cycle with IDD and play a pivotal role in its progression. Future research should elucidate core clock gene-downstream pathway interactions, develop individualized regimens and expand longitudinal studies to support precision prevention and treatment of IDD and low back pain.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42841972What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.