Population Study of Dupuytren’s Contracture Incidence and Prevalence in Patients with Alcohol-Related Disease Compared to Diabetes Mellitus

Authors: Lucia Guo, Amari Eubanks, Damon A Ross Jr, Kameron Rashid, Samrawit Zinabu, Elizabeth Beyene, Mekdem Bisrat, Miriam Michael

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijos.11571.1759577522

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Alcohol, Fibromatosis, Epidemiology, Propensity Score Matching,Dupuytren’s Contracture

Abstract: Background: Dupuytren’s Contracture (DC) is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder affecting the palmar fascia, often associated with systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and alcohol-related diseases. While both conditions have been linked to increased risk, comparative data evaluating their relative impact on DC development remains limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network database, encompassing over 148 million patient records across 139 healthcare organizations from December 10, 2004 to December 10, 2024. Two cohorts were formed: one with patients diagnosed with alcohol-related disorders (n=2,484,432), excluding those with diabetes, and another with diabetes mellitus (n=9,435,596), excluding those with alcohol-related disorders. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed based on age, gender, race, epilepsy, and psoriasis, resulting in two balanced cohorts of 2,138,531 patients each. Dupuytren’s Contracture (ICD-10: M72.0) diagnosis was tracked over a 20-year follow-up. Results: DC incidence was similar between cohorts (Alcohol: 0.264%; Diabetes: 0.275%), with a risk ratio of 0.962 (95% CI: 0.927–0.997, p=0.035) and odds ratio of 0.961, indicating a slightly lower risk in the alcohol cohort. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly earlier onset of DC in the diabetes group (HR=1.258, p<0.001). Interestingly, patients with alcohol-related diseases exhibited a higher frequency of recurrent DC diagnoses (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although the overall risk of DC was low in both populations, diabetes mellitus was associated with earlier onset, while alcohol-related disorders were linked to higher recurrence. These findings suggest distinct pathophysiological trajectories and highlight the need for individualized screening and management strategies. Further research should explore modifiable risk factors and the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations to optimize prevention and intervention efforts.