Skip to content

Smoking Effect on Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Smoking Effect on Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04702126
Enrollment
360
Registered
2021-01-08
Start date
2019-09-01
Completion date
2020-02-01
Last updated
2021-01-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Keywords

Intervertebral disc degeneration, Magnetic resonance imaging, Smoking, Passive smoker

Brief summary

Besides normal aging, genetic and environmental factors are important potential determinants of lumbar disc degeneration. Smoking causes serious health problems, particularly lung and other cancers, heart disease and respiratory diseases, and is among the most common causes of death worldwide. Besides these commonly known diseases related to smoking numerous studies have shown that smoking has detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal system and worsens the prognosis and treatment of leukomotor diseases. In the literature there are studies examining the effect of smoking status on disc degeneration. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of current, former and passive smoking status on degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs.

Detailed description

This retrospective study was performed by obtaining medical records of patients who underwent lumbar spinal MRI between September 2019 and February 2020. After the application of exclusion criteria 955 patients determined between the specified dates. These patients were called by phone to be questioned about their smoking status and whether they were working in heavy work and whether they were athletes. Heavy workers and athletes were also excluded from the study and a total of 360 patients whose smoking status information could be obtained were included in the study.The patients were grouped according to their smoking status as current smoker, former smoker, non-smoker and passive smoker. The cumulative smoking dose for current and former smokers was calculated in terms of pack-years and categorized further into two subgroups: smoked ≤9 pack-years or \>9 pack-years. The number of pack-years was calculated by dividing the number of cigarettes consumed per day by 20 and multiplying by the years that the patient had smoked. Age, gender, weight, and height were recorded, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight/(height)2. Lumbar spinal MRI was performed using a 1.5 Tesla imaging system (General Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI), using the following settings: amplitude: 44 mT/m; slew rate gradient configuration: 200 T/m/s. MRI images were evaluated using a GE Advantage Workstation (GE Healthcare, Buc, France) and Volume Share software v.7.0. The lumbar lordosis angle was measured and the lumbar intervertebral discs were evaluated by Pfirrmann disc degeneration grading system using sagittal T2-weighted MR images (TR/TE: 2500/85 ms, matrix: 320x224, slice thickness: 4 mm, FOV: 32) (23). The degree of degeneration was classified into five grades with Grades IV and V considered as severe disc degeneration. Radiologist reviewing the MRI studies was blinded to the smoking status of the participants.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients who underwent lumbar spinal MRI between September 2019 and February 2020.

Exclusion criteria

* a history of spinal surgery or instrumentation, spinal fracture, trauma, congenital or acquired spinal deformity tumor or infection, * heavy physical workers, * athletes

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evaluation of the effect of current, former and passive smoking status on degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs.3 monthsThe lumbar intervertebral discs of patients were evaluated by Pfirrmann disc degeneration grading system using sagittal T2-weighted MR images. The degree of degeneration was classified into five grades with Grades IV and V considered as severe disc degeneration. Severe disc degeneration was identified between the current, former, passive and non-smoker groups. The relationship between smoking status groups and severe disc degeneration was examined.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026