More radial shortening after low-energy Colles’ fractures is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus among postmenopausal women, irrespective of bone mineral density

Abstract

BackgroundRecent meta-analysis data reveal that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher risk of fracture, despite higher bone mineral density (BMD), than patients without type 2DM. The purpose of this study was to compare BMD and distal radial shortening after low-energy Colles’ fractures among Japanese postmenopausal women aged ≥50years with type 2DM with those in women without it (non-DM). MethodsOne-hundred and ten postmenopausal women aged ≥50years with distal radius fractures resulting from a fall were enrolled in this study. Twelve patients had DM. BMD, type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX), undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), grip strength of the unfractured hand, unipedal standing time, and the degree of radial shortening were measured. ResultsThere were no significant differences in age and body height between the two groups. The DM group had significantly greater body weight and body mass index than the non-DM group. BMDs of the lumbar spine and proximal hip were significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group. NTX, ucOC, grip strength, and the percentage of women with unipedal standing time <15s did not differ between the two groups. Stepwise regression analysis identified DM and shorter unipedal standing time as significant factors associated with more radial shortening, and identified more radial shortening and lower eGFR as significant factors associated with DM. ConclusionsMore radial shortening after low-energy Colles’ fractures was significantly associated with type 2DM among postmenopausal women aged ≥50years, irrespective of BMD.