MRI-derived abdominal adipose tissue is associated with multisite and widespread chronic pain
Authors' conclusion
Abdominal adipose tissue was associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggesting that excessive and ectopic fat depositions may be involved in the pathogenesis of multisite and widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants with abdominal MRI at two imaging visits50.8% women
- Participants
- 32,409 participants
- Exposure
- MRI-derived abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, per SD
- Outcome
- Number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites (neck/shoulder, back, hip, knee or 'all over the body')
Methodological detailspopulation-based, UK Biobank, mixed-effects ordinal/multinomial/logistic regression
- Population-based
- UK Biobank
- Mixed-effects ordinal/multinomial/logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Number of chronic pain sites (multivariable, per SD)
Odds ratio (95% CI)
Women: visceral adipose tissueper SD
2.04(1.85–2.26)
Women: subcutaneous adipose tissue
1.60(1.50–1.70)
Women: visceral/subcutaneous ratio
1.60(1.37–1.87)
Men: visceral adipose tissue
1.34(1.26–1.42)
Men: subcutaneous adipose tissue
1.39(1.29–1.49)
Men: visceral/subcutaneous ratio
1.13(1.07–1.20)
Per SD, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Reporting chronic pain
- Higher adipose tissue associated with greater odds of chronic pain in both sexes
Sex difference
- Effect estimates relatively larger in women than in men
Original publication
MRI-derived abdominal adipose tissue is associated with multisite and widespread chronic pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 10 September 2024. doi:10.
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