Prior studies have unequivocally established a consistent association between osteoporotic hip fracture risk and type 2 diabetes mellitus. One reason this association still remains unclear is primarily due to the limited amount of research conducted in this area. The Utah Study of Nutrition and Bone Health (USNBH) is a case-control study conducted in Utah during the period of 1997-2001 to determine risk factors for osteoporotic hip fracture. All study participants (n = 2590) were determined

more »

... Utah residents 50-90 years of age. Cases were determined from 18 Utah hospitals during 1997-2001. Age and gender-matched controls were randomly selected from the Utah Drivers License pool if less than 65 years of age and the Medicare databases if greater than 65 years of age. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between type 2 diabetes and hip fracture risk. Logistic regression modeling controlled for gender, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, education level, and estrogen use in women. The risk of hip fracture was associated with type 2 diabetes. The significant correlation was primarily found in females in which the risk of hip fracture increased accompanying diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Estrogen usage in females decreased (p < 0.0001) hip fracture risk in both former or current users. Physical activity significantly decreased the risk of hip fracture for females (p < 0.0001) and for males (p = 0.001). Smoking and alcohol use may increase the risk of hip fracture, especially in women. This study substantiates the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of hip fracture.