Causal relationship between modifiable factors and joint sports injuries

doi:10.12307/2025.161

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The causal relationship between modifiable factors such as lifestyle, metabolic characteristics, and nutritional intake and joint sports injuries has been increasingly recognized in clinical studies. However, the exact causal relationship between these modifiable factors and joint sports injuries remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causal relationship between modifiable factors and joint sports injuries using Mendelian randomization to provide a basis for sports injury prevention.
METHODS: The GWAS dataset of intervening factors and joint sports injuries was obtained from publicly available data. The causal relationships between lifestyle, metabolic characteristics, nutritional intake, and joint sports injuries were explored using the inverse variance weighting method, the MR-Egger method, and the weighted median method. For sensitivity analyses, Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger regression, leave-one-out method, and MR-PRESSO were used to verify the stability and reliability of the results.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In terms of lifestyle, coffee (OR=0.29, 95%CI:0.10-0.79, P=0.016), and tea consumption (OR=0.41, 95%CI=0.19-0.85, P=0.017) were associated with a decreased risk of ankle and foot joint sports injuries, and coffee consumption (OR=3.31, 95%CI=1.02-10.73, P=0.046) was potentially causally associated with an increased risk of shoulder joint sports injuries; and never smoking (OR=0.78, 95%CI=0.70-0.87, P=1.49×10-5) was significantly causally associated with a decreased risk of ankle and foot joint sports injuries. (2) In terms of metabolic characteristics, calcium levels (OR=0.88, 95%CI=0.79-0.98, P=0.017) were potentially causally associated with a decreased risk of wrist and hand joint sports injuries. (3) In terms of nutritional intake, vitamin A intake (OR=1.08, 95%CI:1.02-1.13, P=0.007) was potentially causally associated with increased risk of knee joint sports injury. (4) For the sensitivity analysis, Cochran’s Q test showed the existence of heterogeneity (P < 0.05), so the random effect model was used for the analysis. MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO test did not find evidence of pleiotropy (P > 0.05), and the leave-one-out method showed that the results were stable after eliminating single nucleotide polymorphisms one by one. (5) This study preliminarily reveals the effects of modifiable factors, such as lifestyle, metabolic characteristics, and nutritional intake, on the risk of joint sports injuries. It provides valuable research evidence and guidance for the prevention of joint sports injuries.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程

Key words: Mendelian randomization, joint sports injury, modifiable factor, lifestyle, metabolic characteristics, nutritional intake, causal relationship, sensitivity analysis

CLC Number:

R459.9|R318|R873.1

Dong Tingting, Chen Tianxin, Li Yan, Zhang Sheng, Zhang Lei. Causal relationship between modifiable factors and joint sports injuries[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(9): 1953-1962.

Figures/Tables 5

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