Microvascular disease and early diabetes onset are associated with deficits in femoral neck bone density and structure among older adults with longstanding type 1 diabetes

Adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have increased hip fracture risk, yet no studies have assessed volumetric bone density or structure at the hip in older adults with T1D. Here, we used previously collected 3D CT scans of the proximal femur from older adults with longstanding T1D and non-diabetic controls to identify bone deficits that may contribute to hip fracture in T1D. In this retrospective cohort study, we identified 101 adults with T1D and 181 age-, sex-, and race-matched non-diabetic controls (CON) who received abdominal or pelvis CT exams from 2010 to 2020. Among adults with T1D, 33 (33%) had mild-to-moderate nephropathy, 61 (60%) had neuropathy, and 71 (70%) had retinopathy. Within the whole cohort, adults with T1D tended to have lower FN density, though differences did not reach statistical significance. The subset of the T1D group who were diagnosed before age 15 had lower total BMC (-14%, TtBMC), cortical BMC (-19.5%, CtBMC), and smaller Ct cross-sectional area (-12.6, CtCSA) than their matched controls (p<.05 for all). Individuals with T1D who were diagnosed at a later age did not differ from controls in any bone outcome (p>.21). Furthermore, adults with T1D and nephropathy had lower FN aBMD (-10.6%), TtBMC (-17%), CtBMC (-24%), and smaller CtCSA (-15.4%) compared to matched controls (p<.05 for all). Adults with T1D and neuropathy had cortical bone deficits (8.4%-12%, p<.04). In summary, among older adults with T1D, those who were diagnosed before the age of 15 yr, as well as those with nephropathy and neuropathy had unfavorable bone outcomes at the FN, which may contribute to the high risk of hip fractures among patients with T1D. These novel observations highlight the longstanding detrimental impact of T1D when present during bone accrual and skeletal fragility as an additional complication of microvascular disease in individuals with T1D.