1.  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

2. Prevalence rates of osteoarthritis in diabetic subjects

3. Associations and relationships between diabetes and IP OA No IP OAIP OA (n=476)(n=269) Age (years)72.5±6.475.7±6.5 Male sex47.1635.01 BMI (kg/m 2 )27.5±4.728.2±4.4 Alcohol use80.4473.71 Level of education elementary school not completed39.950.55 elementary school completed43.4438.62 vocational/general secondary8.365.85 college/university8.34.98 Marital status not married7.046.07 married63.2547.02 widowed/divorced/separated29.746.9 Poor Cognitive functioning25.7435.59 Significant associations Odds Ratio 95% CI p-value Age ≥ 72 years2.51.77-3.45<0.0001 Female sex1.61.12-2.160.0091 No diabetes BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m 2 1 BMI >27.3 kg/m 2 1.91.37-2.690.0002 Diabetes BMI >27.3 kg/m 2 1 BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m 2 0.30.09-0.830.023 BMI ≤ 27.3 kg/m 2 No diabetes1 Diabetes6.02.38-15.110.0001 BMI > 27.3 kg/m 2 No diabetes1 Diabetes0.80.40-1.750.6346 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

4. 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±6.475.6±6.5 BMI (kg/m 2 )28.1±4.728.1±5.1 Alcohol use81.7574.88 Physical activity80.7270.38 Physical activity low23.532.49 medium33.4729.46 high43.0438.05 Sports activities52.5642.04 Poor Cognitive functioning28.935.36 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