Association between incident falls and subsequent fractures in patients attending the fracture liaison service after an index fracture: a 3-year prospective observational cohort study

L. Vranken, C.E. Wyers, R.Y. Van der Velde, H.M.J. Janzing, S. Kaarsemakers, J. Driessen, J. Eisman, J.R. Center, T.V. Nguyen, T. Tran, D. Bliuc, P. Geusens, J.P. van den Bergh*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the risk of subsequent fractures in patients who attended the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS), with and without incident falls after the index fracture. Design A 3-year prospective observational cohort study. Setting An outpatient FLS in the Netherlands. Participants Patients aged 50+ years with a recent clinical fracture. Outcome measures Incident falls and subsequent fractures. Results The study included 488 patients (71.9% women, mean age: 64.6 +/- 8.6 years). During the 3-year follow-up, 959 falls had been ascertained in 296 patients (60.7%) (ie, fallers), and 60 subsequent fractures were ascertained in 53 patients (10.9%). Of the fractures, 47 (78.3%) were fall related, of which 25 (53.2%) were sustained at the first fall incident at a median of 34 weeks. An incident fall was associated with an approximately 9-fold (HR: 8.6, 95% CI 3.1 to 23.8) increase in the risk of subsequent fractures. Conclusion These data suggest that subsequent fractures among patients on treatment prescribed in an FLS setting are common, and that an incident fall is a strong predictor of subsequent fracture risk. Immediate attention for fall risk could be beneficial in an FLS model of care.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere058983
Number of pages8
JournalBMJ Open
Volume12
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2022

Keywords

  • internal medicine
  • orthopaedic & trauma surgery
  • general medicine (see Internal Medicine)
  • HIP FRACTURE
  • OLDER-PEOPLE
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • PREVENTION
  • OSTEOPOROSIS
  • 1ST
  • METAANALYSIS
  • RECURRENT
  • HISTORY
  • MEN

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Association between incident falls and subsequent fractures in patients attending the fracture liaison service after an index fracture: a 3-year prospective observational cohort study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this