Lateral lumbar spine statistical shape models (SSM) have been used previously to describe associations with osteoarthritis and back pain. However, associations with factors such as osteoporosis, menopause and parity have not been explored. A 143-point SSM, describing L1 to the top of L5, was applied to lateral spine iDXA scans from UK Biobank. Associations with self-reported osteoporosis, menopause, parity and back pain and the first 10 modes of variation were examined using adjusted binary logistic regression or linear regression (adjusted for age, height, weight and total spine BMD). We report odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for each standard deviation change in mode. Complete data were available for 2494 women. Mean age was 61.5 (± 7.4) years. 1369 women reported going through menopause, 96 women self-reported osteoporosis and 339 women reported chronic back pain. 80% of women reported at least 1 live birth. Lumbar spine shape was not associated with back pain in this cohort. Two modes were associated with menopause (modes 1 & 2), 1 mode with parity (mode 1) and 2 modes with osteoporosis (modes 3 & 5). Mode 1 (43.6% total variation), describing lumbar curvature was positively associated with both menopause [OR 1.15 95% CI 1.00–1.33, p=0.05] and parity [OR 1.058 95% CI 1.03–1.0, p=0.01]. Mode 3, describing decreased vertebral height was positively associated with osteoporosis [OR 1.40 95% CI 1.14–1.73, p=0.001].Background
Methods and Results
Both overall spine shape and the size and shape of individual vertebrae undergo rapid growth and development during early childhood. Motor development milestones such as age of walking influence spine development, with delayed ambulation linked with spinal conditions including spondylolysis. However, it is unclear whether associations between motor development and spine morphology persist into older age. Therefore, these associations were examined using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a large nationally-representative British cohort, followed up since birth in 1946. Statistical shape modelling was used to characterise spinal shape (L5-T10) and identify modes of variation in shape (SM) from dual energy x-ray absorptiometry images of the spine taken at age 60–64 years (N=1327 individuals; 51.8% female). Associations between walking age in months (reported by mothers at 2 years) and SMs were examined with adjustment for sex, birthweight, socioeconomic position, height, lean mass and fat mass. Later onset of independent walking was weakly associated with greater lordosis (SM1; Purpose and Background
Methods and Results
To investigate associations between sagittal thoracolumbar spine shape with sex and measures of adiposity throughout adulthood. Thoracolumbar spine shape was characterised using statistical shape modelling on lateral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry images, recorded for vertebral fracture analysis, of the spine from 1529 participants of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, acquired at age 60–64 years. Associations between spine shape modes (SM) and 1) sex, 2) contemporaneous measures of overall and central adiposity (indicated by body mass index and waist circumference, respectively), 3) changes in total and central adiposity during earlier stages of adulthood and age at onset of overweight, were investigated.Purpose
Methods
