SMOKING AND MODIC CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the prevalence of smokers among patients with chronic low back pain, in the presence and absence of Modic changes, also the correlation between smoking history and progression of the Modic scale. Methods: Observational study, case-control type, with the inclusion of 340 vertebral segments in a total of 68 patients, separated into groups: with Modic (case group) and without Modic (control group). The odds ratio between the groups was verified using the Chi-Square test. Degree of correlation between smoking history (packs/year) and the degree of disc degeneration using Max-Modic and Sum-Modic, using Spearman’s non-parametric test. Results: The Modic group (MG) was 54% female and 46% male, with an average smoking history of 13.84 pack-years and an average of 1.42 altered segments per patient. Conclusion: An increased risk for Modic changes was found among smoking patients (odds ratio [OR] 4.09; 95% CI, 1.26-12.31; p < 0.01) and significant correlation between Max-Modic, sum-Modic and smoking history. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective comparative study.