Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a fibroproliferative disorder affecting the palmar fascia of the hand. Risk factors include diabetes mellitus (DM), whereas a high body mass index (BMI) is associated with a lower prevalence of DD. The aim of this study was to further elucidate risk and protective factors for the development of DD using longitudinal population-based data from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS). During 1991–1996, the inhabitants aged 46–73 years in the city of Malmö, Sweden were invited to participate in the population-based MDCS (41% participation rate). Data on incident DD were retrieved from Swedish national registers. Associations between DM, alcohol consumption, BMI, and serum apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) at baseline were analysed in multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for known confounders. Among 30,446 recruited participants, 347 men and 194 women were diagnosed with DD during a median follow-up time of 23 years. DM (men HR 2.23; 95% CI 1.50–3.30, women HR 2.69; 95% CI 1.48–4.90) and alcohol consumption (men HR 2.46; 95% CI 1.85–3.27, women HR 3.56; 95% CI 1.95–6.50) were independently associated with incident DD in the Cox regression models. Furthermore, inverse associations with incident DD were found for obesity among men, and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio among both sexes. DM and excess alcohol consumption constituted major risk factors for the development of DD. Furthermore, an inverse association between obesity among men and DD, and also between ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and DD was found in both sexes.

AimsTo investigate practice effects in a test-retest situation, where vibration perception thresholds (VPT) were measured in healthy subjects using a multi-frequency test method.MethodsIn eight consecutive tests, VPTs were tested in the pulps of the index and little fingers at seven frequencies (8, 16, 32, 64, 125, 250 and 500 Hz). Subjects were twenty healthy adults aged 26 to 65 years (mean 46.0 ± 11.1 years; 10 male and 10 female). The subjects were examined at six tests with intervals of one month (mean 33 ± 6; time 0 to month 5) and at two additional tests with prolonged intervals (month 12 and 18). Linear mixed model analysis was performed to investigate differences over the subsequent test occasions. To examine where potential practice effects occurred, a pairwise comparison with Bonferroni correction was made.ResultsSmall decreases in VPTs were found in 8 out of the 14 frequencies (index finger: 8, 16, 32, 250 and 500 Hz; little finger: 16, 250 and 500 Hz) within the test period from time 0 to month 5. In tests at 12 and 18 months, VPTs were increased compared to month 5, but lowered in comparison with time 0. Hence, minor significant decreases were found in three frequencies for the index finger (125, 250 and 500 Hz) and one frequency for the little finger (250 Hz) when examining VPTs with prolonged time intervals.ConclusionsWhen evaluating vibration perception thresholds in a clinically relevant time period of once or twice a year, no consideration of practice effects is necessary when interpreting the results.

Background and AimTrigger finger (TF) or stenosing tenosynovitis has been associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), although today’s knowledge is mostly based on cross-sectional and case-control studies. Thus, the aim of the present population-based cohort study over more than 20 years was to investigate DM as a risk factor for TF.MethodsData from Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS), including 30,446 individuals, were analysed with regards to baseline DM and known or potential confounders. Information regarding TF diagnosis until study end date of Dec 31st, 2018, was retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) using ICD-codes. Survival probability was investigated in Kaplan-Meier plots. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate DM as risk factor for TF, adjusted for several confounders and presented as Hazard Ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsAt baseline, 4.6% (1,393/30,357) participants had DM. In total, 3.2% (974/30,357) participants were diagnosed with TF during the study period. Kaplan-Meier plot showed that the probability for incident TF was significantly higher in participants with baseline DM compared with individuals without baseline DM. Adjusted HR for DM as risk factor for TF was 2.0 (95% CI: 1.5-2.6, p<0.001).ConclusionThis longitudinal study showed that DM is an important risk factor for developing TF. When adjusting for sex, age, BMI, manual work, statin use, smoking and alcohol consumption, DM remained the main risk factor for TF.