The association between diabetes mellitus and musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Despite the fact that DM patients are living longer, research on the prevalence of MSDs and other related illnesses is still lacking compared to that of other comorbidities. This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed cohort studies to determine the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Methods: A comprehensive search of international databases, including Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, was conducted up to June 2023 to identify relevant studies investigating the association between MSDs and DM. Results: The meta-analysis included ten cohort studies with a total of 308,445 participants. The pooled risk ratio (RR) estimate for the association between MSDs and DM was 1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.06). Based on subgroup analysis, the association between longer duration (more than 7), European, below the age of 70, and female patients was higher than the others. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that there may be an association between MSDs and diabetes in people with diabetes. These findings add to the existing knowledge on this topic and highlight the importance of recognition and management of MSDs in people with DM. There is a need for further research to investigate the underlying mechanisms and to develop targeted interventions for the prevention and management of MSDs in this population.