Journal of Pain Research
C-Reactive Protein and Risk of Low Back Pain: A Univariable and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Study
By Shalin Feng, Jun Mou, Xiaoqin Wang and 1 others.
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the causal associations of genetically predicted C-reactive protein (CRP), major depressive disorder (MDD), body mass index (BMI), and smoking initiation with low back pain (LBP) using Mendelian randomization (MR).
Methods
Summary-level GWAS data for exposures and LBP (FinnGen R8) were obtained. Instrumental variables were selected at a strict genome-wide threshold ( P < 5× 10 − 8 ) and harmonized. Two-sample univariable MR was performed primarily using random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW). Multivariable MR (MVMR) assessed independent effects adjusting for confounders, evaluated via conditional F-statistics. Sensitivity analyses included Cochran’s Q, MR-Egger, and leave-one-out diagnostics.
