Rate of tarsal and metatarsal bone mineral density change in adults with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy: a longitudinal study

Background In people with diabetes (DM) and peripheral neuropathy (PN), loss of bone mineral density (BMD) in the tarsals and metatarsals contribute to foot complications; however, changes in BMD of the calcaneal bone is most commonly reported. This study reports rate of change in BMD of all the individual bones in the foot, in participants with DM and PN. Our aim was to investigate whether the rate of BMD change is similar across all the bones of the foot. Methods Participants with DM and PN (n = 60) were included in this longitudinal cohort study. Rate of BMD change of individual bones was monitored using computed tomography at baseline and 6 months, 18 months, and 3-4 years from baseline. Personal factors (age, sex, medication use, step count, sedentary time, and PN severity) were assessed. A random coefficient model estimated rate of change of BMD in all bones and Pearson correlation tested relation-ships between personal factor variables and rate of BMD change. Results Mean and calcaneal BMD decreased over the study period (p < 0.05). Individual tarsal and metatarsal bones present a range of rate of BMD change (-0.3 to-0.9%/year) but were not significantly different than calcaneal BMD change. Only age showed significant correlation with BMD and rate of BMD change. Conclusion The rate of BMD change did not significantly differ across different foot bones at the group level in peo-ple with DM and PN without foot deformity. Asymmetric BMD loss between individual bones of the foot and aging may be indicators of pathologic changes and require further investigation.

Automated summary

In individuals with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, changes in bone mineral density of the foot bones were investigated. The rate of bone mineral density change did not differ significantly across the different foot bones at the group level.