BACKGROUND:Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a systemic,non-inflammatory disease characterized by calcification and ossification of ligaments,tendons,and their attachments,predominantly affecting men over the age of 50.Studies have shown a higher prevalence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis among obese individuals;however,the causal relationship between the two remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis using Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:The study utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms from the Genome Wide Association Study database as instrumental variables,incorporating data related to obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to assess the causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,with evaluations for pleiotropy,heterogeneity,and sensitivity.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant positive causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.The inverse-variance weighted method indicated that"obesity"(odds ratio[OR]=1.111,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.068-1.156,P=1.598×10-7),"obesity due to excess calories"(OR=1.093,95%CI:1.042-1.146,P=0.000),and"obesity,other/unspecified"(OR=1.109,95%CI:1.069-1.152,P=4.908×10-8)were significantly associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.Conversely,the reverse Mendelian randomization analysis did not find a causal relationship between diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and obesity.The robustness of the Mendelian randomization analysis results was confirmed by pleiotropy,heterogeneity and sensitivity tests,indicating that while obesity significantly increases the risk of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,but diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis does not pose a risk factor for obesity.

BACKGROUND:Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a systemic,non-inflammatory disease characterized by calcification and ossification of ligaments,tendons,and their attachments,predominantly affecting men over the age of 50.Studies have shown a higher prevalence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis among obese individuals;however,the causal relationship between the two remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis using Mendelian randomization analysis.METHODS:The study utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms from the Genome Wide Association Study database as instrumental variables,incorporating data related to obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed to assess the causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,with evaluations for pleiotropy,heterogeneity,and sensitivity.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a significant positive causal relationship between obesity and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.The inverse-variance weighted method indicated that"obesity"(odds ratio[OR]=1.111,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.068-1.156,P=1.598×10-7),"obesity due to excess calories"(OR=1.093,95%CI:1.042-1.146,P=0.000),and"obesity,other/unspecified"(OR=1.109,95%CI:1.069-1.152,P=4.908×10-8)were significantly associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.Conversely,the reverse Mendelian randomization analysis did not find a causal relationship between diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and obesity.The robustness of the Mendelian randomization analysis results was confirmed by pleiotropy,heterogeneity and sensitivity tests,indicating that while obesity significantly increases the risk of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,but diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis does not pose a risk factor for obesity.