122.
Prevalence of unknown Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Shoulder
Symptoms
Per Hviid Gundtoft, Anne Krogh-Andersen, Birthe Anette Gullaksen, Jette
Wessel Vobbe, Lilli Sørensen
Orthopedic Sygehus Lillebaelt; Orthopedic, Sygehus Lillebaelt, Vejle;
Orthopedic, Sygehus Lillebaelt, Vejle; Orthopedic, Sygehus Lillebaelt, Vejle;
Orthopedic, Sygehus Lillebaelt, Vejle
Background:
Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity occur 2 to 4
times as often among patients with diabetes than in the general population. The
pathogenic mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. The general accepted
theory is that high blood glucose levels in diabetic patients cause an excessive
glycosylation of connective tissue and that the delay in diagnosing diabetes
mellitus - and therefore long period of high blood glucose level - may have an
influence on the risk of acquiring a musculoskeletal disorder of the shoulder.
Studies of the Danish population have shown that prevalence of diabetes
mellitus is high and that a majority of the patients are undiagnosed.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To investigate whether there is a larger percentage
of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in a population of patients referred to an
orthopedic department with shoulder symptoms when compared to a group of
patients with knee symptoms.
Materials and Methods:
The study population was all patients who were
referred by their GP to the hospital with either shoulder or knee symptoms.
HbA1c was measured in all patients and Body Mass Index, sex, age and
diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus were registered. 300 patients were included.
Findings / Results:
There was a significant higher HbA1c in the group of
patients with shoulder symptoms than in the group with knee symptoms. There
was no significant difference in the number of patients with an undiagnosed
diabetes mellitus between the two groups.
Conclusions:
Diabetes Mellitus is a risk factor of acquiring a disorder from
the upper extremity (Frozen shoulder e.g.), but patients with an unknown
diabetes mellitus may not have endured a high level of blood glucose for a
period long enough to enforce an excessive glycosylation.
