Associations between endogenous sex hormones and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain
Authors' conclusion
In both sexes, greater T concentrations and T/SHBG were associated with lower number of CMP sites and site-specific CMP, while greater concentrations of SHBG were linked to lower odds of neck/shoulder CMP.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants (females 51.6%; white 95.2%)UK Biobank
- Participants
- 357,424 participants
- Exposure
- Serum sex hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations (per SD) and chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Outcome
- Number of chronic (≥3 months) musculoskeletal pain sites (neck/shoulder, back, hip, knee, 'all over the body')
- Follow-up
- Baseline and three follow-ups
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, mixed-effects multinomial/logistic regression
- UK Biobank
- Mixed-effects multinomial/logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Number of CMP sites per SD of T and T/SHBG
Relative risk ratio (95% CI)P value
Males: T (per SD)
0.81(0.77–0.86)
≤0.001Males: T/SHBG (per SD)
0.85(0.80–0.92)
≤0.001Females: T (per SD)
0.85(0.81–0.89)
≤0.001Females: T/SHBG (per SD)
0.93(0.89–0.97)
≤0.001Per SD, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Greater T and T/SHBG associated with lower odds of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) across all sites
- Higher SHBG associated with lower odds of neck/shoulder CMP in both sexes
- No association of E2, SHBG or E2/SHBG with site-specific CMP in either sex
Original publication
Associations between endogenous sex hormones and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain. Br J Anaesth. Published 19 December 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →