Risk factors for fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes

Objective: To determine clinical diabetes-related risk factors for fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research design and methods: History of bone fragility fractures occurring after T1D diagnosis was assessed by questionnaire in this cross-sectional study in 600 T1D subjects. Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)over the previous 5 years was used as an index of long-term glycemic control; complications were adjudicated by physician assessment. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between diabetes-related risk factors and fracture history. Results: One-hundred-eleven patients (18.5%)reported at least one fracture; of these 73.8% had only one and 26.2% had more than one fracture. Average age was 41.9 ± 12.8 years, with even gender distribution; disease duration was 19.9 ± 12.0 years; and BMI was 24.4 ± 3.7 kg/m2. The 5-year average HbA1c was 7.6 ± 1.0% (60 mmol/mol). In adjusted models, reduced risk for 1 fracture was found in those with higher creatinine clearance rate (CCr)(RRR 0.22 [95% CI: 0.06–0.83]for 1 unit increase in lnCCr, p = 0.03)and increased risk in those with neuropathy (RRR 2.57 [1.21–5.46], p = 0.01). Increased risk for ≥2 fractures was found in subjects in the highest tertile of HbA1c (≥7.9%)compared with the lowest tertile (≤7.17%)(RRR 3.50 [1.04–11.7], p = 0.04)and of disease duration (≥26 years versus <14 years)(RRR 7.59 [1.60–35.98], p = 0.01). Conclusions: Poor glycemic control and long exposure to the disease are independent diabetes-related risk factors for multiple bone fractures in T1D.