Anti-osteoporotic treatment after hip fracture remains alarmingly low

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures typically affect postmenopausal women, and osteoporotic fractures significantly increase disability, morbidity and mortality. Several anti-osteoporotic agents are available and have been shown to effectively reduce the incidence of low-energy osteoporotic fractures. However, the post-osteoporotic fracture treatment rate remains low. The purpose of the present study was to follow up on patients with a recent hip fracture with primary focus on anti-osteoporotic treatment and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

METHODS: We included patients ≥ 65 years of age admitted to a department of orthopaedic surgery in Denmark from 1 June 2019 to 30 May 2020.

RESULTS: In this period, 570 patients ≥ 65 years were treated for a hip fracture. A total of 16.7% of the patients received anti-osteoporotic treatment at follow-up and 6.5% initiated anti-osteoporotic treatment or had a relevant change in anti-osteoporotic treatment. Only 9.8% had a DXA after their fracture; and among this group, 48% received anti-osteoporotic treatment.

CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with a recent low-energy hip fracture did not receive a DXA, did not have a relevant follow-up or received any anti-osteoporotic treatment. The problem is global and needs to be addressed. Starting treatment with anti-osteoporotic medicine before discharge from the orthopaedic department and referring the patient to a DXA at the same time may be part of the solution.

FUNDING: none.

TRAIL REGISTRATION: not relevant.