Functional limitations of upper limbs in older diabetic individuals. The Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at assessing the prevalence rate of symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis in diabetic subjects and their possible associations, as part of the prospective study called ILSA (Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging).


METHODS
The study examined 5632 individuals aged 65-84 years, living either independently or in institutions. Of the above number, 2109 subjects were examined in the 1996 follow-up, with evaluation of the diabetic status and osteoarthritis symptoms (at least one of the following sites: hand, knee, shoulder, hip). Associations between diabetes and osteoarthritis symptoms were examined by means of the chi2 test or the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Relationships of diagnoses of osteoarthritis and possible risk factors were analysed by multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for significant interactions.


RESULTS
Only for shoulders did osteoarthritis symptoms reveal a significant association with diabetes (p=0.0107). Significant risk factors for shoulder osteoarthritis were gender, age, completed years of schooling, BMI and diabetes. A woman of </=76 years was 3.3 times more likely to have definite osteoarthritis and almost 2 times more likely to have possible osteoarthritis than a man of similar age. A man of over 76 years was estimated to be 3.5 times as likely to have definite osteoarthritis and almost 1.6 times more likely to have possible osteoarthritis than a younger man.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that the high prevalence rates of osteoarthritis symptoms in diabetic patients should be a major concern when planning treatment, because they might lead to a reduction in physical exercise, due to joint pain. Common pathophysiological pathways should be identified, such as RANKL/OPG and inflammation markers, to explain the independent association of these disabling conditions.
CNR Aging Section, Institute of Neuroscience, 35128 Padova, Italy. paola.siviero@in.cnr.it
Paola
P
Siviero
Paolo
P
Tonin
Stefania
S
Maggi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000453:epidemiology; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*