The association between diabetes mellitus, glucose, and chronic musculoskeletal complaints. Results from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between DM, non-fasting glucose and chronic MSCs defined as pain and/or stiffness >or= 3 months during the past year in the general adult population.


METHODS
The results were based on cross-sectional data from 64,785 men and women (aged >or= 20 years) who participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey, which included 1,940 individuals with known DM. Associations were assessed using multiple logistic regression, estimating prevalence odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).


RESULTS
High non-fasting glucose was associated with a lower prevalence of chronic MSCs compared to a low glucose level. DM was associated with higher prevalence of chronic MSCs, in particular chronic widespread MSCs. In the multivariate analysis, adjusting for glucose level, BMI, age, gender and physical activity, chronic widespread MSCs was 1.6 times more likely (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2) among individuals < 60 years of age with DM than among those without DM. The association between chronic widespread MSCs and DM was most evident among the group of individuals aged < 60 years with either type 2 DM or unclassified DM (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5).


CONCLUSIONS
In this cross-sectional study a high non-fasting glucose was associated with lower prevalence of chronic MSCs. Among individuals with known DM chronic widespread MSCs were more likely.
Hoff
Ole M
OM
Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. olemarho@stud.ntnu.no
Midthjell
Kristian
K
Zwart
John-Anker
JA
Hagen
Knut
K
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose