Associations of myosteatosis with disc degeneration: A 3T magnetic resonance imaging study in individuals with impaired glycaemia

Abstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) may be linked to dysregulations of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and fatty alterations of muscle composition (Myosteatosis). Our aim was to evaluate the different associations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based paravertebral myosteatosis with lumbar disc degeneration in individuals with impaired glucose metabolism and normoglycaemic controls. Methods In total, 304 individuals (mean age: 56.3 ± 9.1 years, 53.6% male sex, mean body mass index [BMI]: 27.6 ± 4.7 kg/m2) from a population‐based cohort study who underwent 3‐Tesla whole‐body chemical‐shift‐encoded (six echo times) and T2‐weighted single‐shot‐fast‐spin‐echo MRI were included. Lumbar disc degeneration was assessed at motion segments L1 to L5, categorized according to the Pfirrmann score and defined as Pfirrmann grade > 2 and/or disc bulging/herniation on at least one segment. Fat content of the autochthonous back muscles and the quadratus lumborum muscle was quantified as proton density fat fraction (PDFFmuscle). Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, BMI and regular physical activity were calculated to evaluate the association between PDFFmuscle and outcome IVDD. Results The overall prevalence of IVDD was 79.6%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence or severity distribution of IVDD between participants with or without impaired glucose metabolism (77.7% vs. 80.7%, P = 0.63 and P = 0.71, respectively). PDFFmuscle was significantly and positively associated with an increased risk for the presence of IVDD in participants with impaired glycaemia when adjusted for age, sex and BMI (PDFFautochthonous back muscles: odds ratio [OR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.09, 4.3], P = 0.03; PDFFquadratus lumborum: OR 2.01, 95% CI [1.04, 3.85], P = 0.04). After further adjustment for regular physical activity, the results attenuated, albeit approaching statistical significance (PDFFautochthonous back muscles: OR 1.97, 95% CI [0.97, 3.99], P = 0.06; PDFFquadratus lumborum: OR 1.86, 95% CI [0.92, 3.76], P = 0.09). No significant associations were shown in healthy controls (PDFFautochthonous back muscles: OR 0.62, 95% CI [0.34, 1.14], P = 0.13; PDFFquadratus lumborum: OR 1.06, 95% CI [0.6, 1.89], P = 0.83). Conclusions Paravertebral myosteatosis is positively associated with intervertebral disc disease in individuals with impaired glucose metabolism, independent of age, sex and BMI. Regular physical activity may confound these associations. Longitudinal studies will help to better understand the pathophysiological role of skeletal muscle in those with concomitant disturbed glucose haemostasis and intervertebral disc disease, as well as possible underlying causal relationships.