title: Are the determinants of vertebral endplate changes and severe disc degeneration in the lumbar spine the same? A magnetic resonance imaging study in middle-aged male workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Modic changes are bone marrow lesions visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and they are assumed to be associated with symptomatic intervertebral disc disease, especially changes located at L5-S1. Only limited information exists about the determinants of Modic changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the determinants of vertebral endplate (Modic) changes, and whether they are similar for Modic changes and severe disc degeneration focusing on L5-S1 level.
  
  
  METHODS
  228 middle-aged male workers (159 train engineers and 69 sedentary factory workers) from northern Finland underwent sagittal T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Modic changes and disc degeneration were analyzed from the scans. The participants responded to a questionnaire including items of occupational history and lifestyle factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between selected determinants (age, lifetime exercise, weight-related factors, fat percentage, smoking, alcohol use, lifetime whole-body vibration) and Modic type I and II changes, and severe disc degeneration (= grade V on Pfirrmann's classification).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalences of the Modic changes and severe disc degeneration were similar in the occupational groups. Age was significantly associated with all degenerative changes. In the age-adjusted analyses, only weight-related determinants (BMI, waist circumference) were associated with type II changes. Exposure to whole-body vibration, besides age, was the only significant determinant for severe disc degeneration. In the multivariate model, BMI was associated with type II changes at L5-S1 (OR 2.75 per one SD = 3 unit increment in BMI), and vibration exposure with severe disc degeneration at L5-S1 (OR 1.08 per one SD = 11-year increment in vibration exposure).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides age, weight-related factors seem important in the pathogenesis of Modic changes, whereas whole-body vibration was the only significant determinant of severe disc degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. mari.kuisma@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuisma
authors.forename: Jaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karppinen
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haapea
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niinimäki
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ojala
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heliövaara
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.forename: Kaisu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaikkonen
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taimela
authors.forename: Antero
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natri
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tervonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects