Exploring the association between insulin resistance and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a cross-sectional...

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a disorder characterized by the calcification and ossification of ligaments and soft tissues, especially ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament, resulting in the formation of "bridging" osteophytes extending over multiple contiguous segments. The precise etiology of DISH remains unclear; however, metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia may be associated with its development. Insulin resistance (IR), a critical component of metabolic syndrome, not only contributes to the dysregulation of blood glucose homeostasis but also influences bone metabolism disorders.

Considering the association between DISH and metabolic disturbances, we aimed to investigate the relationship between IR and DISH.

Cross-sectional, observational study.

This study was conducted using data from the Iwaki Health Promotion Project (IHPP). After screening, a total of 522 patients (206 males, 316 females) were included in the study cohort (mean age: 62.04±10.68 years).

The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of DISH, which was diagnosed using the modified Resnick's criteria based on prior studies. The secondary outcome measure was IR, which was quantified using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), with the 75th percentile (1.52) used as the cut-off value.

Logistic regression and receiver operating curve analyses were performed between HOMA-IR and the visceral fat area to verify whether the 75th percentile of HOMA-IR could be used as a cut-off for defining IR. Subsequently, χ² tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between HOMA-IR and DISH. Covariates included waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting glucose levels adjusted for International Diabetes Federation metabolic syndrome criteria, and age. The robustness of the study findings was assessed using log-transformed HOMA-IR and internal validation.

Of the 522 participants, 40 were diagnosed with DISH. Higher HOMA-IR (≥1.52, 75th percentile) strongly correlated with higher visceral fat area and significantly higher prevalence of DISH (15.1% vs 5.1%; p<.001). IR was significantly associated with DISH (odds ratio: 3.17; p=.000478). In adjusted models, the HOMA-IR effect was attenuated, whereas systolic blood pressure and waist circumference remained robustly associated. No significant relationship was found between the HOMA-IR and early-phase DISH.

In this sample, higher HOMA-IR was associated with DISH; however, the association attenuated after adjustment for metabolic syndrome components, suggesting that IR is consistent with shared pathways with central obesity and blood pressure rather than demonstrating an independent effect of IR.