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Aroke EN, Srinivasasainagendra V, Kottae P, Quinn TL, Wiggins AM, Hobson J, Kinnie K, Stoudmire T, Tiwari HK, Goodin BR. The Pace of Biological Aging Predicts Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain Severity. J Pain 2024; 25:974-983. [PMID: 37907115 PMCID: PMC10960701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine if and how the pace of biological aging was associated with nonspecific chronic low back pain (cLBP) and compare what measure of epigenetic age acceleration most strongly predicts cLBP outcomes. We used the Dunedin Pace of Aging from the Epigenome (DunedinPACE), Horvath's, Hannum's, and PhenoAge clocks to determine the pace of biological aging in 69 cLBP, and 49 pain-free controls (PFCs) adults, ages 18 to 85 years. On average, participants with cLBP had higher DunedinPACE (P < .001) but lower Horvath (P = .04) and Hannum (P = .02) accelerated epigenetic age than PFCs. There was no significant difference in PhenoAge acceleration between the cLBP and PFC groups (P = .97). DunedinPACE had the largest effect size (Cohen's d = .78) on group differences. In univariate regressions, a unit increase in DunedinPACE score was associated with 265.98 times higher odds of cLBP than the PFC group (P < .001). After controlling for sex, race, and body mass index (BMI), the odds ratio of cLBP to PFC group was 149.62 (P < .001). Furthermore, among participants with cLBP, DunedinPACE scores positively correlated with pain severity (rs = .385, P = .001) and interference (rs = .338, P = .005). Epigenetic age acceleration from Horvath, Hannum, and PhenoAge clocks were not significant predictors of cLBP. The odds of a faster pace of biological aging are higher among adults with cLBP, and this was associated with greater pain severity and disability. Future interventions to slow the pace of biological aging may improve cLBP outcomes. PERSPECTIVE: Accelerated epigenetic aging is common among adults with nonspecific cLBP. Higher DunedinPACE scores positively correlate with pain severity and interference, and better predict cLBP than other DNA methylation clocks. Interventions to slow the pace of biological aging may be viable targets for improving pain outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin N. Aroke
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Vinodh Srinivasasainagendra
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Pooja Kottae
- Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tammie L. Quinn
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Asia M. Wiggins
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Joanna Hobson
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kiari Kinnie
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tonya Stoudmire
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hemant K. Tiwari
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Burel R. Goodin
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St Louis, USA
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