Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Outcome of Common Musculoskeletal Diseases at the Community Level in Bangladesh

Background: To determine the impact of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the prevalence, clinical features, and outcome of common musculoskeletal disorders at the community level in Bangladesh. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,464 individuals from June 2023 to May 2024 in 10 community hospitals of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) among two population groups (1,732 participants in each group). Participants were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and record reviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and a checklist. Data were analysed by using STATA software. Quality of data and ethical issues were strictly maintained. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among T2DM participants was 8.43% and among non-diabetics was 3.92%. Age ( P < .001), education ( P < .001) and occupation ( P = .031) were significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders in T2DM participants. Among T2DM participants, the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders were osteoarthritis (41.1%), rheumatoid arthritis (17.8%), fibromyalgia (15.1%), prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) (14.4%), and osteoporosis (12.3%). Among non-diabetic participants, osteoarthritis (42.6%) was also prevalent. Other musculoskeletal disorders included PLID (25.0%), rheumatoid arthritis (19.1%), and fibromyalgia (14.7%). Conclusion: Present study findings will guide to development of a comprehensive approach and primary care setup for further evaluation and management of diabetic patients having musculoskeletal diseases.