Family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives and risk of hand surgical diagnoses: a Swedish population-based cohort study from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study

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).