The Musculoskeletal Disorders in Diabetic Patients and the Evaluation of their Relationship with Metabolic Parameters and Microvascular Complications

Background: Diabetes mellitus has been associated with many different musculoskeletal system problems. Objective: This study aims to show the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in patients with diabetes and to reveal their relationship to the metabolic parameters and microvascular complications. Methods: Seven hundred two diabetic patients who consecutively applied to our clinic between March 2017 and February 2018 were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. The relationship of the musculoskeletal disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s contracture, adhesive capsulitis, flexor tenosynovitis, limited joint mobility syndrome, Charcot arthropathy, diabetic foot and gout to the patients’ age, gender, type of diabetes, duration of diabetes, metabolic parameters, and microvascular complications were evaluated. Results: Musculoskeletal system disorders were detected in 45.9% (n = 322) of the 702 diabetic patients evaluated in our study. The most common disorders were carpal tunnel syndrome 17.7% (n = 124), Dupuytren’s contracture 14.4% (n = 101), and adhesive capsulitis 13.8% (n = 97). A statistically significant relationship of the HbA1c level with Dupuytren’s contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, and adhesive capsulitis was detected (p<0.05). Conclusions: Patients’ age, duration of diabetes, HbA1c level, and presence of microvascular complications are associated with musculoskeletal disorders in this population.