 The traditional diabetes complications do not include musculoskeletal diseases, although their frequency has often been reported to be higher in diabetic subjects.  The purpose of this study is to explore the association between diabetes and osteoarthritis (OA) in an Italian elderly population.  Analyses were based on an observational cohort study, the Progetto Veneto Anziani (PRO.V.A.), including subjects aged 65 and older, living both in the community and nursing homes.  The data of 1,572 participants with hand, knee and hip X- rays were analyzed. Hand radiographs were scored for the presence of OA in the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints (IP) and in the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC) using a standard atlas; for knee and hip the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale was used. P. Siviero1. S. Zambon1.2. S. Zanoni1.2. G. Crepaldi1 1 CNR. Institute of Neuroscience. Padova section. Italy 2 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences. University of Padova. Italy P. Siviero 1, S. Zambon 1,2, S. Zanoni 1,2, G. Crepaldi 1 1 CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Padova Section, Italy 2 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND DIABETES

Prevalence rates of osteoarthritis in diabetic subjects

Associations and relationships between diabetes and IP OA No IP OAIP OA (n=476)(n=269) Age (years)72.5± ±6.5 Male sex BMI (kg/m 2 )27.5± ±4.4 Alcohol use Level of education elementary school not completed elementary school completed vocational/general secondary college/university Marital status not married married widowed/divorced/separated Poor Cognitive functioning Significant associations Odds Ratio 95% CI p-value Age ≥ 72 years < Female sex No diabetes BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m 2 1 BMI >27.3 kg/m Diabetes BMI >27.3 kg/m 2 1 BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m 2 No diabetes1 Diabetes BMI > 27.3 kg/m 2 No diabetes1 Diabetes Variables in the model: age (median value). sex, BMI (median value), diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, alcohol use, level of education, marital status, cognitive functioning Logistic regression modelCharacteristics of the sample

Associations and relationships between diabetes and hip OA Logistic regression modelCharacteristics of the sample No Hip OAHip OA (n=973)(n=268) Age (years)72.9± ±6.5 BMI (kg/m 2 )28.1± ±5.1 Alcohol use Physical activity Physical activity low medium high Sports activities Poor Cognitive functioning Odds Ratio 95% CI p-value Age ≥ 76 years1,41,04-1,960,0294 Men sex1,41,03-1,900,0314 Alcohol use0,60,42-0,850,0044 Physical activity0,60,42-0,850,0047 Variables in the model: age (3 rd quartile), sex, diabetes, alcohol use, physical activity, smoking status, monthly income, cognitive functioning, depression symptoms Significant associations