BMJ Open. 2026 Jun 19;16(6):e117616. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117616.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a strong genetic component and is a known risk factor for several hand conditions. We aimed to examine whether DM in first-degree relatives is associated with an increased risk of hand surgical diagnoses.
DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study.
SETTING: Data were collected from a population-based cohort in southern Sweden (Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS)). Family relationships were obtained through the Swedish Multi-Generation Register and healthcare diagnoses from the National Patient Register.
PARTICIPANTS: 30 446 individuals (60% female) aged 45-73 years were included from the MDCS.
OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was any diagnosis within the 'diabetic hand' category; carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment, trigger finger, Dupuytren's disease and thumb base osteoarthritis, identified through International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision codes. Logistic regression models were used.
RESULTS: In the index study population, 4 150 (14%) had ≥1 hand surgical diagnosis. In unadjusted models, DM in the index individual and first-degree relatives was associated with an increased risk of developing hand surgical diagnoses (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.22). After adjusting for confounders, only DM in the index individual remained significantly associated with the diabetic hand (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.33). In diagnosis-specific analyses, an association persisted between having ≥1 sibling with DM and Dupuytren's disease (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.76), and between having ≥1 child with DM and carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.39).
CONCLUSION: While DM in the index individual was consistently associated with a higher risk of multiple hand surgical diagnoses, DM in first-degree relatives did not significantly influence the risk after adjustments. Exceptions included an association between ≥1 sibling with DM and Dupuytren's disease, and ≥1 child with DM and carpal tunnel syndrome. Future research should further explore potential genetic factors contributing to these conditions.
PMID:42320962 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2026-117616