Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the bone mineral density, hip geometry parameters and bone quality, measured by trabecular bone score (TBS) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Materials and methods: We examined 97 patients with T1DM (28 males, 69 females, age: 31 (24.9−37.7) yrs., duration of DM: 11 (7−19.5) yrs., HbA1c: 8.6 (7.1−10) %, BMI: 23.1 (21.9−25.7) kg/m²). The control group consisted of 77 health age- and BMI-matched persons (20 males, 57 females). Bone mineral density (BMD) and the TBS were measured with dual X-ray absorptiometry. Geometric parameters were determined using Advanced Hip Analysis program including hip axis length (HAL), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) and cross-sectional area CSA.

Results: T1DM patients had lower BMD both at spine (T1DM:−0.4(−1.6–0.4) vs. controls: 0.3(−0.7–0.8), P=0.001, respectively) and at femoral neck (T1DM: −0.6(−1.5–0) vs. controls: 0.1(−0.5–0.7), P<0.001, respectively), higher frequency of fragility Fx (T1D: n=21 vs controls: n=6, P=0.012, respectively), lower level of osteocalcin (T1D: 15.14(11.8–24.2) vs controls: 24.5(22.2–28.2) pg/ml, P<0.001, respectively) compared with controls. T1D patients had shorter hip axis length (HAL) than in control group (T1D: HAL 107(102–113) vs. controls: 109(106–116) mm, P=0.010, respectively). T1D patients had lower CSA (T1D: 145(127–166) vs. controls: 160(139–178) mm², P=0.002, respectively) and TBS L1–L4 (T1D: 1.382(1.277–1.414) vs. controls: 1.428(1.368–1.470) P=0.016, respectively) compared with controls.

Conclusions: BMD, TBS and CSA in patients with type 1 DM were lower in comparison to the control group. Structural changes of bone tissue may indicate the poor bone quality and might potentially predispose to higher fracture risk in T1DM patients.