Osteoporosis & bone health

Age at diabetes diagnosis and fracture risk in women: a cohort study from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

Osteoporos IntPublished Prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Diabetes is associated with increased fracture risk, but this risk varies by age at diagnosis. Women diagnosed at younger ages face substantially higher risk, while those diagnosed later show little excess risk.

Study context

Population
Women of the 1946–1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, followed from age 27 to 76 years3,761 (30.9%) with ≥1 fracture
Participants
12,170 women
Exposure
Women with diabetes vs women without diabetes, by age at diabetes diagnosis
  • Diabetesn = 2,251
Outcome
Fracture rate; modification of the diabetes–fracture association by age at diabetes diagnosis
Methodological detailslinked administrative health records, Poisson regression adjusted for age and time-varying BMI, stratified by age at diagnosis
  • Linked administrative health records
  • Poisson regression adjusted for age and time-varying BMI
  • Stratified by age at diagnosis

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Fracture risk by age at diabetes diagnosis
vs women without diabetes
Relative risk (95% CI)
Diagnosis at age 35
1.61(1.23–2.12)
Diagnosis at age 60
1.02(0.90–1.16)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeRR (95% CI)
Fracture risk, diabetes overall1.13 (1.02–1.24)

Original publication

Age at diabetes diagnosis and fracture risk in women: a cohort study from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Osteoporos Int. Published 12 October 2025. doi:10.1007/s00198-025-07710-y

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