Supplements

Depressive symptoms scores are positively associated with incident spinal pain risk in middle-aged and elderly populations

A prospective cohort study using 9-year CHARLS data found that each 1-point increase in depressive symptoms score (CESD-10) was associated with an 8% higher risk of incident spinal pain (OR=1.08, 95% CI:1.05-1.11). The highest quartile had a 2.58-fold higher risk compared to the lowest, with a linear dose-response relationship and a critical threshold of approximately 2.1.

Last updated: Jul 30, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Depressive symptoms score and risk of incident spinal pain in middle-aged and elderly populations: a prospective cohort study based on china health and retirement longitudinal study data.

observational

Yuan Y, Yu X, Li Z, Yuan S, Zhu A, Huang H, Liu S · European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 9 years
Intervention: Depressive symptoms score (CESD-10) measurement at baseline
Outcome: Incident spinal pain (self-reported or clinically assessed) during 9-year follow-up
Effect Size: OR=1.08 per 1-point increase in depressive symptoms score (95% CI:1.05-1.11)
Population: 3934 middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults (≥45 years, no baseline spinal pain) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

Result:

PubMed: 42517168DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.26.09409-8

Mechanism Graph

Depressive symptoms lower pain thresholds through central sensitization
↓
Chronic pain induces neuroendocrine and immune dysfunctions
↓
Negative coping behaviors exacerbate pain perception
↓
Result: Increased risk of incident spinal pain

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational design cannot establish definitive causality
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from unmeasured variables (e.g., physical activity, medication use)
  • ⚠Reliance on self-reported spinal pain may introduce misclassification bias

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the critical threshold for depressive symptoms score that increases spinal pain risk?▼

The critical threshold was approximately 2.1 on the CESD-10 scale, above which the risk of incident spinal pain significantly increases.

Does dyslipidemia modify the association between depressive symptoms and spinal pain?▼

Yes, dyslipidemia had a significant moderating effect (P=0.006), with a weaker association in those with dyslipidemia, but no significant mediation effect was found.

How large was the sample size and follow-up duration?▼

The study included 3934 participants followed for 9 years (2011-2020), with 223 incident cases of spinal pain.

What population was studied and were there sex differences?▼

The study focused on middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults (≥45 years), with 52.41% males and 47.59% females; those with incident spinal pain were more likely to be female.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Yuan Y, Yu X, Li Z, Yuan S, Zhu A, Huang H, Liu S. "Depressive symptoms score and risk of incident spinal pain in middle-aged and elderly populations: a prospective cohort study based on china health and retirement longitudinal study data.." European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine, 2026. PMID: 42517168 DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.26.09409-8
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.