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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Authors: Amanda Williams, Steven J. Kamper, John H. Wiggers, Kate M. O’Brien, Hopin Lee, Luke Wolfenden, Sze Lin Yoong, Emma Robson, James H. McAuley, Jan Hartvigsen, Christopher M. Williams

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Chronic diseases and musculoskeletal conditions have a significant global burden and frequently co-occur. Musculoskeletal conditions may contribute to the development of chronic disease; however, this has not been systematically synthesised. We aimed to investigate whether the most common musculoskeletal conditions, namely neck or back pain or osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, contribute to the development of chronic disease.

Methods

We searched CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Medline in Process, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science to February 8, 2018, for cohort studies reporting adjusted estimates of the association between baseline musculoskeletal conditions (neck or back pain or osteoarthritis of the knee or hip) and subsequent diagnosis of a chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease or obesity). Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed study quality. Adjusted hazard ratios were pooled using the generic inverse variance method in random effect models, regardless of the type of musculoskeletal condition or chronic disease. PROSPERO: CRD42016039519.

Results

There were 13 cohort studies following 3,086,612 people. In the primary meta-analysis of adjusted estimates, osteoarthritis (n = 8 studies) and back pain (n = 2) were the exposures and cardiovascular disease (n = 8), cancer (n = 1) and diabetes (n = 1) were the outcomes. Pooled adjusted estimates from these 10 studies showed that people with a musculoskeletal condition have a 17% increase in the rate of developing a chronic disease compared to people without (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.13–1.22; I2 52%, total n = 2,686,113 people).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis found that musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease. In particular, osteoarthritis appears to increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Prevention and early treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and targeting associated chronic disease risk factors in people with long standing musculoskeletal conditions may play a role in preventing other chronic diseases. However, a greater understanding about why musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease is needed.
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Metadata
Title
Musculoskeletal conditions may increase the risk of chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors
Amanda Williams
Steven J. Kamper
John H. Wiggers
Kate M. O’Brien
Hopin Lee
Luke Wolfenden
Sze Lin Yoong
Emma Robson
James H. McAuley
Jan Hartvigsen
Christopher M. Williams
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1151-2

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