Summary

In our study, we identified evidence indicative of a causal relationship between low levels of EA and the incidence of recurrent patellar dislocation.

Abstract

Purpose

Musculoskeletal disorders are associated to some extent with educational attainment (EA). Nevertheless, these studies are not fully conclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic causality between educational attainment and recurrent patellar dislocation using Mendelian randomization(MR).

Method

By analyzing UK Biobank and IEU databases for genome-wide association studies (GWAS), 8 exposures to education attainment (EA) were identified, totaling 1067 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The FinnGen consortium provided genetic data on recurrent patellar dislocations.Using the TwoSampleMR package in R, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to determine whether the risk for recurrent patellar dislocation is affected by EA.
Result: According to inverse variance weighting (IVW), EA has a variable effect on recurrent patellar dislocation according to genetic prediction, and RPD is negatively associated with the following educational attainments: educational attainment (years of education) (ebi-a-GCST90029013)（OR 0.91 with a 95% confidence interval (Cl) of 0.85-0.98, p=0.02), Years of schooling (ieu-a-1239) (OR 0.56, 95% Cl 0.39-0.78, p < 0.001), College or University degree (ukb-a-397) (OR 0.36 95% Cl 0.18-0.75, p = 0.006), A levels/AS levels or equivalent (ukb-a-399) (OR 0.16, 95% Cl 0.05-0.56, p = 0. 003), Other professional qualifications eg: nursing teaching ( ukb-a-403) (OR 0.02, 95% Cl 0.0004-0.66, p = 0.029), College or University degree (ukb-b-16489) (OR 0.33, 95% Cl 0.16-0.68, p = 0.0026) and O levels/GCSEs or equivalent (ukb-b-18099) (OR 0.07, 95% Cl 0.007-0.68, p = 0.02). However, Qualifications:None of the above(ukb-a-398) was positively associated with recurrent patellar dislocation (OR 5.47, 95% CI 1.37-21.82, p = 0.03), nor were any levels of multidimensionality or heterogeneity found.

Conclusions

Recurrent patellar dislocation is somewhat influenced by educational attainment, but not significantly. On the other hand, lack of educational attainment significantly increases the possibility of recurrent patellar dislocation. In our study, we identified evidence indicative of a causal relationship between low levels of EA and the incidence of recurrent patellar dislocation. Future research should prioritize the identification of risk factors, including lifestyle and dietary habits, associated with EA to elucidate potential causal relationships and inform the development of evidence-based interventions for affected individuals.