Clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients with fragility fractures

Are we doing things right?

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a disease which increases as our population ages. It is associated with a greater risk of fragility fractures, leading to a loss of independence, chronic pain and even death. In order to avoid these complications, it is important to describe the population diagnosed with fragility fractures and determine if patients at risk for or diagnosed with osteoporosis are being screened and managed appropriately.

Materials and methods: A prospective study of patients hospitalized due to fragility fractures in a tertiary care hospital from March-September 2018. The patients were described according to clinical and sociodemographic variables, and screening criteria from various guidelines were applied to determine if patients with fragility fractures are being adequately screened and managed.

Results: Seventy patients with fragility fractures were identified, with an average age of 80.01 ± 10.73 years. Of these, 81.43% had been seen by a general practitioner, but only 50% had been educated on fall prevention. In addition, 97.14%, 95.71% and 90.0% of these patients met the osteoporosis screening criteria according to the NOF, ISCD and OSC guidelines, respectively, and only 11.43% had been screened.

Conclusion: Fragility fractures are common in our setting. However, turnaround times for care and intervention are long and both primary and secondary prevention efforts are currently insufficient.