Methodology and cohort profile for the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study: a study focusing on back health in a Chinese population

• Published in: Journal of Zhejiang University. B. Science Vol. 19; no. 7; pp. 547 - 558
• Main Authors: Hu, Xiao-jian, Chen, Lun-hao, Battié, Michele C., Wang, Yue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hangzhou Zhejiang University Press 01.07.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Back pain; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bone imaging; Bone mineral density; Degeneration; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; Epidemiology; Exposure; Health; Hip; Intervertebral discs; Lesions; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pain; Phenotypes; Population studies; Population-based studies; Questionnaires; Reliability; Resonance; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Spine; Spine (lumbar); Test procedures; 方法学; Back pain; Endplate lesion; Methodology; R681.5; Disc degeneration; 椎间盘退变; 终板缺损; Modic改变; Population-based study; Modic change; 腰痛; 大样本研究; Back pain; Population-based study; Disc degeneration; Modic change; Endplate lesion; Methodology
• ISSN: 1673-1581; 1862-1783
• DOI: 10.1631/jzus.B1700484

Back pain is a worldwide health problem, adding a tremendous burden to modern societies. However, little information on back health is available in China, even though a quarter of the world’s population is Chinese. To enhance knowledge in this area, we designed and initiated the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study, which is a cross-sectional study of a general sample of mainland Chinese with focusing on disc degeneration, Modic changes, endplate lesions, and back pain. The study consists of a structured questionnaire to measure back pain history and lifetime exposure to suspected risk factors, magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, bone mineral density study of the spine and hip, and DNA sample analysis. Here we briefly introduce the study methodology, report the test-retest reliability of the questionnaire, and describe the cohort profile to date. Since May 2014, 301 randomly selected subjects (male/female, 122/179; mean age, 51.0 years; range, 20–87 years) have been recruited. Tests-retests of the questionnaire, completed by 40 participants, revealed good reliability. To our knowledge, the Hangzhou Lumbar Spine Study is the first population-based epidemiological study conducted to characterize lumbar spinal phenotypes and back pain, their interaction, and their associations with lifetime environmental exposure, in mainland Chinese. Epidemiological information obtained from a reliable questionnaire, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements, and DNA analysis may serve as a valuable reference for future studies on back health, particularly for mainland Chinese.