The causal relationship between flatfoot, BMI and iliotibial bundle syndrome: A Mendelian randomization analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background An increasing number of patients with iliotibial bundle syndrome have been found to be clinically. To investigate the putative causal link between flatfoot and BMI, and the development of iliotibial bundle syndrome, employing a Mendelian randomization approach. Method Utilizing extensive GWAS data, MR analysis was conducted, primarily employing random-effects inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median method. Results The Mendelian randomization (MR) findings regarding the association between flatfoot and iliotibial bundle syndrome indicated that the MR-Egger regression yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 2.26 (95% CI: 0.99–5.14) with a p-value of 0.067, the weighted median method yielded an OR of 1.35 (95% CI: 0.92–1.98) with a p-value of 0.110, and the inverse variance weighting method yielded an OR of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.10–1.87) with a p-value of 0.008. The MR analysis of the relationship between BMI and iliotibial bundle syndrome demonstrated that the MR-Egger regression, inverse variance weighting method, and weighted median method had p-values greater than 0.05, and the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion The risk of iliotibial bundle syndrome in individuals with flat feet is 43% higher than that in persons with normal foot structure. There is no significant association between BMI and the risk of iliotibial bundle syndrome.