Abstract
RATIONALE: Adults with a recent fracture have a high imminent risk of a subsequent fracture. We hypothesise that, like subsequent fracture risk, fall risk is also highest immediately after a fracture. This study aims to assess if fall risk is time-dependent in subjects with a recent fracture compared to subjects without a fracture. METHODS: This retrospective matched cohort study used data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD. All subjects =50 years with a fracture between 1993 and 2015 were identified and matched one-to-one to fracture-free controls based on year of birth, sex and practice. The cumulative incidence and relative risk (RR) of a first fall was calculated at various time intervals, with mortality as competing risk. Subsequently, analyses were stratified according to age, sex and type of index fracture. RESULTS: A total of 624,460 subjects were included; 312,230 subjects with an index fracture, matched to 312,230 fracture-free controls (71% females, mean age 70?±?12, mean follow-up 6.5?±?5 years). The RR of falls was highest in the first year after fracture compared to fracture-free controls; males had a 3-fold and females a 2-fold higher risk. This imminent fall risk was present in all age and fracture types and declined over time. A concurrent imminent fracture and mortality risk were confirmed. CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates an imminent fall risk in the first years after a fracture in all age and fracture types. This underlines the need for early fall risk assessment and prevention strategies in 50+ adults with a recent fracture.
Original language | English |
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Article number | afad201 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Age and Ageing |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Oct 2023 |
Keywords
- accidental falls
- clinical practice research datalink
- imminent fall risk
- imminent fracture risk
- older people
- risk
- Female
- Male
- Humans
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Cohort Studies
- Retrospective Studies
- Fractures, Bone/epidemiology
- Risk Assessment
- Seasons