Abstract
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders are often given lower priority and receive little attention in developing countries especially in Ethiopia. Despite extensive research on MSDs, there is no comprehensive evidence in Ethiopia on the magnitude of musculoskeletal disorders. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of musculoskeletal disorders among patients with DM in Ethiopia. METHODS: The study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The articles were searched using electronic databases including PubMed, Science Direct, and African Journals Online from October 1 to March 30, 2025. The authors carried out data extraction using a standardized form created in MS Excel. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis study. The study showed that the pooled prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among patients with diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia is 27.79% (95% CI: 21.90-33.68, I (2) = 59.7%). Being female (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.35-2.55, I (2) = 0.0%), rural residence(OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.21-2.95, I (2) = 46.1), age > 50 years (OR = 6.55, 95% CI: 1.23 -34.98, I (2) = 93.9%), hypertension(OR = 4.85, 95% CI 2.59-9.08, I (2) = 73.6%) and DM duration ≥ 10 years (OR = 9.41, 95% CI: 1.04-85.08, I (2) = 94.9%) were associated factors of musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among patients with diabetes in Ethiopia, particularly among older adults, those with long-standing diabetes, and individuals with comorbid conditions such as hypertension. These findings underscore the need for targeted screening and early intervention programs for high-risk groups. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024580332.