JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rapid proliferation of electronic devices has increased screen time, raising concerns about its potential health effects, including chronic pain. However, existing studies have limitations in scope and causal inference, with inconsistent findings and a lack of biological mechanism exploration.

Objective:

The objective of our study was to investigate the causal associations and shared genetic mechanisms between different forms of screen time and various chronic pain phenotypes.

Methods:

Leveraging genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we investigate the association and shared biological mechanisms between screen time (Time spent watching television, Time spent using computer, and Length of mobile phone use) and chronic pain phenotypes (including multisite chronic pain (MCP), back, knee, neck/shoulder, hip pain, and headaches). Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis were performed to examine associations between screen time and chronic pain. Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR), Transcriptome-Wide Association Study (TWAS), and colocalization analysis were utilized to identify the shared genes and potential mechanisms.

Results:

MR analysis revealed that Time spent watching television and Length of mobile phone use were positively associated with several types of chronic pain, while Time spent using computer showed a negative association. Specifically, Time spent watching television was positively associated with the risk of MCP (OR=1.6081, P=1.05×10-31), back pain (OR=1.1370, P=2.41×10-8), knee pain (OR=1.0914, P=7.10×10-6), neck/shoulder pain and hip pain. Length of mobile phone use was positively associated with the risk of MCP (OR=1.2200, P=2.15×10-5), headaches and neck/shoulder pain. However, Time spent using computer was negatively associated with the risk of MCP (OR=0.8322, P=0.0005), back pain and knee pain. Integrative three analysis methods identified overlapping genes, with CEP170 emerging as a key gene consistently supported by SMR, TWAS, and colocalization analysis in the relationship between Time spent using computer and MCP.

Conclusions:

Our findings demonstrate an association between screen time and various aspects of chronic pain. The CEP170 gene may be the biological basis for the association between Time spent using computer and MCP risk. These results provide intriguing targets for further research into the mechanisms.