Correlation between degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and systemic diseases

Background: Impaired blood flow as a result of arteriosclerosis facilitates degenerative changes in the spine. However, associations between Lumber Spinal Stenosis (LSS) and some chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia) remain unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify association between degenerative lumber spinal canal stenosis and systemic diseases [Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HT) and hyperlipidemia].

Study Design: A cross-sectional prospective analytics study.

Methods: Total 105 patients (37 males and 68 females) diagnosed with LSS using the clinical diagnostic support tool and magnetic resonance imaging to measure the dural sac diameter and spinal canal diameter (Central stenosis, spinal canal diameter <10 mm Diameter).

We investigated the prevalence of some chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia), where the level of haemoglobin A1C, lipid profile.

(Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were tested. According to the age, patients were divided into 3 subgroups (40-49 years,50-60 years and >60 years) and then subdivided in to 5 groups according to the associated chronic diseases into those with LSS without any chronic diseases, LSS with only DM, LSS with only HT,LSS with hyperlipidaemia and patient have LSS with multiple diseases.

Results: Most of the patients were female (68; 64.8%) and male are (37; 35.2 %).

Patients with LSS and no chronic studied disease were (37: 35.2%), while the patients with chronic disease were (68:64.7%). The patients with single disease were (31, 29.5%), distributed as HT (13: 41.9%), DM (14:45%) and hyperlipidaemia (4:12%). Patients with more than one chronic studied disease were (37:35.2%).

Conclusion: This study revealed a close association between diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in patient aged 50 years and above with LSS, which was more common in patients with more than one studied disease. The most common associated single disease was DM, HT and hyperlipidaemia.