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Table 3 Associations between the selected determinants and Modic Type I changes, Modic Type II changes and severe disc degeneration, presented for all vertebral levels and for the L5-S1 level separately. Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) per one standard deviation (SD) are calculated for continuous variables. Subjects with both types are not included in the analyses of Types I and II.

From: 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

  

Modic Type I

Modic Type II

Severe disc degeneration b

  

All levels1 N = 133

L5-S12 N = 121

All levels3 N = 172

L5-S14 N = 149

All levels5 N = 228

L5-S16 N = 212

 

SD

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

OR

95% CI

Age

4 years

1.13

0.73–1.58

1.35

0.84–1.93

1.56

1.21–1.95

1.54

1.14–1.96

1.46

1.13–1.82

1.43

1.07–1.82

Train engineers vs. factory workers

NA

1.51

0.58–3.91

1.87

0.56–6.24

0.82

0.41–1.63

1.44

0.62–3.32

1.80

0.89–3.61

2.48

1.08–5.67

Vibration exposure

11 years

1.00

0.59–1.41

1.05

0.58–1.55

0.95

0.64–1.26

1.20

0.83–1.58

1.27

0.97–1.59

1.41

1.05–1.78

Body mass index

3 kg/m2

1.14

0.77–1.54

1.08

0.67–1.54

1.36

1.02–1.75

1.42

1.03–1.86

1.17

0.87–1.49

1.10

0.78–1.45

Waist circumference

9 cm

1.10

0.73–1.49

1.02

0.59–1.47

1.42

1.08–1.77

1.48

1.11–1.89

1.12

0.82–1.42

1.07

0.76–1.40

Fat percentage

6 %

1.10

0.69–1.54

1.01

0.94–1.10

1.08

0.77–1.42

1.11

0.71–1.53

1.15

0.85–1.46

1.16

0.82–1.51

Lifetime exercise a

2 units

1.24

0.80–1.78

1.59

0.94–2.49

1.20

0.86–1.60

1.30

0.89–1.80

1.13

0.82–1.49

1.14

0.80–1.55

Smoking

10 pack years

1.41

0.99–1.84

1.43

0.94–1.94

1.17

0.85–1.51

1.23

0.89–1.59

1.14

0.87–1.43

1.10

0.80–1.42

Regular vs. no alcohol use

NA

0.71

0.30–1.68

0.77

0.27–2.21

1.09

0.53–2.24

1.00

0.45–2.22

1.25

0.63–2.49

1.42

0.65–3.10

  1. All levels: 1 33 subjects with only Modic I changes, 3 72 with only Modic II changes and 5 65 with severe disc degeneration.
  2. Level L5-S1: 2 21 subjects with only Modic I changes, 4 49 with only Modic II changes and 6 49 with severe disc degeneration.
  3. Subjects with type I changes were excluded from the analyses of type II changes. Similarly, subjects with type II changes were excluded from the analyses of type I changes. The reference group in the analyses of Modic changes consisted of 100 subjects with no Modic changes, and in case of severe disc degeneration of 163 subjects with at most grade IV degeneration.
  4. a Lifetime leisure exercise activity is a score from 1 to 9; 1–4 mild, 5–7 moderate and 8–9 high activity.
  5. b Severe disc generation = Pfirrmann grade V