scholarly journals Hip Fractures in Malta: Are we Missing an Opportunity?

2021 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. e184-e190
Author(s):  
Mark Bugeja ◽  
Arthur Curmi ◽  
Daniel Desira ◽  
Gregory Apap Bologna ◽  
Francesco Galea ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is both preventable and treatable. It usually becomes evident when a fragility fracture occurs. Unfortunately, most studies show that only a small percentage of individuals at increased risk of fracture are assessed and treated, even following a fragility fracture. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether patients suffering from a low-energy hip fractures in the Maltese Islands are given osteoporosis treatment. Method All patients older than 50 years presenting to the acute care hospitals in Malta and Gozo with a fragility hip fracture during December 1, 2015 and November 30, 2016 were included. Data on mortality, other fragility fractures, prescription of calcium, vitamin D, and antiresorptive therapy were collected. Results Calcium with vitamin D supplements were prescribed to 40% of patients; however, only 2.64% of patients were given pharmacological therapy. Following a hip fracture, the mortality rate was 18.5% at 1 year and 26.21% at 2 years. Apart from a high mortality rate, 28.19% of individuals sustained another fragility fracture before or after the hip fracture. Conclusion There should be increased osteoporosis awareness in Malta and a national bone mineral density screening program should be set up. An active role of the orthogeriatrics team in the management and treatment of osteoporosis following a fragility fracture might improve treatment rate and decrease refracture and mortality rates.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 49-49
Author(s):  
Mieke Van Hemelrijck ◽  
Hans Garmo ◽  
Karl Michaelsson ◽  
Andreas Thorstenson ◽  
Pär Stattin ◽  
...  

49 Background: Rapid loss of bone-mineral density is a known side-effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa). Hip fractures are also independently associated with risk of mortality. To our knowledge few population-based observational studies have yet investigated the risk of dying following fractures among men with PCa. We aimed to assess skeletal-related events and mortality in more detail by specifically studying the link between hip fractures in PCa men and risk of death. Methods: PCBaSe Sweden 2.0 is based on the National Prostate Cancer Register and contains age and county matched men free of PCa. We selected all men (n=14,205) who had been hospitalized with a hip fracture, as registered in the National Patient Register, between 2006 and 2010. A total of 2300 were diagnosed with PCa before the hip fracture and 66% of them were treated with ADT. The main outcome was death as registered in the National Cause of Death Register. The risk of death was estimated using multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards regression analyses and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) taking into account PCa risk category, history of fractures, civil status, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and treatment with bisphosphonates. Results: In the analysis for risk of death >90 days after a hip fracture, there was an increased risk of death among PCa men on ADT, especially those aged <84 years (e.g., HR at 3-6 months after hip fracture: 2.47 (95%CI: 1.85-3.30) compared to men free of PCa with a hip fracture). The SMRs showed that PCa men on ADT who got a hip fracture were seven times more likely to die than expected in the reference population of all men with PCa, whereas PCa men who were not on ADT and had a hip fracture were 13 times more likely to die than expected in this reference population. However, the absolute risk difference between men with and without a hip fracture was 30 per 1,000 person-years when evaluating the effect of a hip fracturing among men on ADT, whereas a hip fracture would cause an additional 20 per 1,000 person-years to die among PCa men without ADT as well as among men free of PCa. Conclusions: Our SMRs and absolute risk calculations show that hip fractures are more dangerous in PCa men treated with ADT than in PCa men without ADT or in men free of PCa.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-51
Author(s):  
Ramona Dobre ◽  
Dan Niculescu ◽  
Gheorghe Popescu ◽  
Adrian Barbilian ◽  
Cătălin Cîrstoiu ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroduction: Hip fracture is the most severe consequence of osteoporosis and an important cause of excess mortality in the elderly.Objective: We aimed to evaluate the in-hospital mortality rate after osteoporotic hip fracture in patients treated surgically or functionally in specialized centers in Bucharest.Materials and methods: We calculated the in-hospital mortality rate in 745 patients (540 women [72.48%], with a mean age of 79.1 ± 11 years), surgically or functionally treated for fragility hip fracture over a 12 months period.Results: Average length of hospitalization was 18.12 days. In hospital mortality rate was 5.36% (n=40, women 60%). An important risk factor associated with mortality was age, p=0.001. The male sex was also a risk factor with a mortality rate of 7,8% (n=16), compared to 4.44% in women, p<0.005, with OR of 1.57. Out of the 40 patients, 57.5% had a femoral neck fracture, 35% intertrochanteric, and 5.5% atypical fracture in absence of bisphosphonates. 7.5% had previous fragility fractures. 85% of the patients had a history of one or more cardiac pathologies (34.28% with atrial fibrillation), 57.5% underwent surgical intervention (n=23) with an average day of intervention of 8.82 after admission. None of the patients had an osteoporosis treatment before the event and on average 3.73 medications with an increased risk of falling and fracture.Conclusion: In-hospital mortality rate after hip fracture remains high; probably this being related to the high comorbidity associated with male sex and increased age as risk factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 806-816
Author(s):  
Mohammad K Abdelnasser ◽  
Ahmed A Khalifa ◽  
Khaled G Amir ◽  
Mohammad A Hassan ◽  
Amr A Eisa ◽  
...  

Background: Fragility hip fracture is a common condition with serious consequences. Most outcomes data come from Western and Asian populations. There are few data from African and Middle Eastern countries. Objective: The primary objective was to describe mortality rates after fragility hip fracture in a Level-1 trauma centre in Egypt. The secondary objective was to study the causes of re-admissions, complications, and mortality. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 301 patients, aged > 65 years, with fragility hip fractures. Data collected included sociodemographic, co-morbidities, timing of admission, and intraoperative,ostoperative, and post-discharge data as mortal- ity, complications, hospital stay, reoperation, and re-admission. Cox regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with 1-year mortality. Results: In-hospital mortality was 8.3% (25 patients) which increased to 52.8% (159 patients) after one year; 58.5% of the deaths occurred in the first 3-months. One-year mortality was independently associated with increasing age, ASA 3-4, cardiac or hepatic co-morbidities, trochanteric fractures, total hospital stay, and postoperative ifection and metal failure. Conclusion: Our in-hospital mortality rate resembles developed countries reports, reflecting good initial geriatric health- care. However, our 3- and 12-months mortality rates are unexpectedly high. The implementation of orthogeriatric care after discharge is mandatory to decrease mortality rates. Keywords: Fragility hip fractures; trochanteric fractures; mortality rate.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Rachel E Neale ◽  
Louise F Wilson ◽  
Lucinda J Black ◽  
Mary Waterhouse ◽  
Robyn M Lucas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of falls and fractures. Assuming this association is causal, we aimed to identify the number and proportion of hospitalisations for falls and hip fractures attributable to vitamin D deficiency [25 hydroxy D (25(OH)D) <50 nmol/L] in Australians aged 65 years and over. We used 25(OH)D data from the 2011/12 Australian Health Survey and relative risks from published meta-analyses to calculate population attributable fractions for falls and hip fracture. We applied these to data published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to calculate the number of events each year attributable to vitamin D deficiency. In men and women combined, 8.3% of hospitalisations for falls (7991 events) and almost 8% of hospitalisations for hip fractures (1315 events) were attributable to vitamin D deficiency. These findings suggest that even in a sunny country such as Australia vitamin D deficiency contributes to a considerable number of hospitalisations as a consequence of falls and for treatment of hip fracture in older Australians; in countries where the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is higher the impact will be even greater. It is important to mitigate vitamin D deficiency but whether this should occur through supplementation or increased sun exposure needs consideration of the benefits, harms, practicalities, and costs of both approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215145932199616
Author(s):  
Robert Erlichman ◽  
Nicholas Kolodychuk ◽  
Joseph N. Gabra ◽  
Harshitha Dudipala ◽  
Brook Maxhimer ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hip fractures are a significant economic burden to our healthcare system. As there have been efforts made to create an alternative payment model for hip fracture care, it will be imperative to risk-stratify reimbursement for these medically comorbid patients. We hypothesized that patients readmitted to the hospital within 90 days would be more likely to have a recent previous hospital admission, prior to their injury. Patients with a recent prior admission could therefore be considered higher risk for readmission and increased cost. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified 598 patients who underwent surgical fixation of a hip or femur fracture. Data on readmissions within 90 days of surgical procedure and previous admissions in the year prior to injury resulting in surgical procedure were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine if recent prior admission had increased risk of 90-day readmission. A subgroup analysis of geriatric hip fractures and of readmitted patients were also performed. Results: Having a prior admission within one year was significantly associated (p < 0.0001) for 90-day readmission. Specifically, logistic regression analysis revealed that a prior admission was significantly associated with 90-day readmission with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI: 4.8-10.9). Discussion: This patient population has a high rate of prior hospital admissions, and these prior admissions were predictive of 90-day readmission. Alternative payment models that include penalties for readmissions or fail to apply robust risk stratification may unjustly penalize hospital systems which care for more medically complex patients. Conclusions: Hip fracture patients with a recent prior admission to the hospital are at an increased risk for 90-day readmission. This information should be considered as alternative payment models are developed for hip fracture care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1105.1-1106
Author(s):  
S. Garcia ◽  
B. M. Fernandes ◽  
S. Ganhão ◽  
M. Rato ◽  
F. Pinheiro ◽  
...  

Background:Although poorly understood, patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) seem to have higher prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased spine fracture risk.Objectives:We aim to determine, by conventional densitometry (DXA) and using the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), the prevalence of low BMD and the fracture risk, respectively, in our SSc cohort and its potential determinants.Methods:Observational transversal study was performed including consecutive patients with the diagnosis of SSc. We collected data regarding demographics, BMD (lumbar spine and femoral neck) and occurrence of fracture. Ten-year risk of osteoporotic fracture was estimated using FRAXv4.1with the Portuguese population reference. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0; p<0.01 was considered statistically significant.Results:Median age of patients (n=97) was 62 years old [56, 70], 88.7% females (n=86). Seventy-eight patients (80.4%) had limited cutaneous form, 5 (5.2%) presented a diffuse cutaneous form and 13 (13.4%) an overlap syndrome. Regarding clinical features: digital ulcers in 30 patients (30.9%), interstitial lung disease (ILD) in 16 (6.5%), gastrointestinal involvement in 16 (16.5%), miositis in 4 (4.1%) and pulmonary arterial hypertension in 3 (3.1%). Anti-topoisomerase I antibody (anti-Scl70) positivity was present in 15 patients (15.5%) and anti-centromere antibody (ACA) positivity in 63 (64.9%). Nine patients (9.3%) were smokers and 6 (6.2%) reported an alcohol consumption of 3 or more units/day. Median body mass index (BMI) was 25.4 Kg/m2[21.4, 29.1], with 5 patients (5.2%) being underweight. Vitamin D insufficiency was reported in 19 patients (19.6%). Twenty-one patients (21.6%) have been exposed to oral glucocorticoids (GCT) for more than 3 months at a dose of 5mg daily or more. Eleven patients (11.3%) had previous low impact fractures: 10 of which were vertebral and 1 wrist fracture. Regarding the prescribed anti-osteoporotic treatment (AOP), we found: alendronate (n=7, 7.2%), zoledronic acid (n=7, 7.2%), denosumab (n=2, 2.1%) and teriparatide (n=1, 1%).Low BMD was present in 45 patients (46.4%); median femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD) was 0.827 [0.709, 0.893].Ten year probability of fracture (%) was: median risk for major fracture was 5.1 [3.5, 9.7] and 3.8 [2.5, 8], with and without FN-BMD, respectively; for hip fracture the estimated risk was 1.2 [0.6, 3.1] and 1.0 [0.4, 2.5], with and without FN-BMD, respectively. According to FRAX thresholds for the Portuguese population, 25 patients (25.8%) met criteria to start AOP treatment. Among them, only 10 patients (40%) started it, as the agreement between the indication to treat by FRAX and the onset of treatment was weak (k= 0.338). A strong agreement was found between FRAX risk threshold with DXA and World Health Organization (WHO) threshold for starting AOP (k= 0.814) and no agreement was found between FRAX risk without DXA and WHO threshold.FN-BMD presented a weak correlation with BMI (r = 0.393), a moderate inverse correlation with major fracture risk with and without FN-BMD (r = -0.704, r=-0.412, respectively) and with hip fracture risk with and without FN-BMD (r = -0.799, r=-0.412, respectively). Major fracture risk with and without FN-BMD presented a moderate correlation with spine fractures (r = 0.350; r=0.397, respectively).No correlation was found between WHO threshold and spine fractures. No correlations were found between FN-BMD or fracture risk estimated by FRAX and disease manifestations, anti-Scl70 or ACA positivity, vitamin D insufficiency, smoking or GCT use.Conclusion:In our cohort, low BMD was prevalent and had correlation with BMI. FRAX appears to be an useful instrument as it correlated with spine fractures, contrary to what was verified when we used the WHO threshold. Early monitoring of BMD and estimating fracture risk using FRAX appear to be useful tools for the prevention of fractures in this population.Disclosure of Interests:Salomé Garcia: None declared, Bruno Miguel Fernandes: None declared, Sara Ganhão: None declared, Maria Rato: None declared, Filipe Pinheiro: None declared, Georgina Terroso: None declared, Miguel Bernardes Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli-Lilly, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Pfizer, Janssen, Novartis, Lúcia Costa: None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Firas J. Raheman ◽  
Djamila M. Rojoa ◽  
Jvalant Nayan Parekh ◽  
Reshid Berber ◽  
Robert Ashford

AbstractIncidence of hip fractures has remained unchanged during the pandemic with overlapping vulnerabilities observed in patients with hip fractures and those infected with COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the independent impact of COVID-19 infection on the mortality of these patients. Healthcare databases were systematically searched over 2-weeks from 1st–14th November 2020 to identify eligible studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 on hip fracture patients. Meta-analysis of proportion was performed to obtain pooled values of prevalence, incidence and case fatality rate of hip fracture patients with COVID-19 infection. 30-day mortality, excess mortality and all-cause mortality were analysed using a mixed-effects model. 22 studies reporting 4015 patients were identified out of which 2651 (66%) were assessed during the pandemic. An excess mortality of 10% was seen for hip fractures treated during the pandemic (OR 2.00, p = 0.007), in comparison to the pre-pandemic controls (5%). Estimated mortality of COVID-19 positive hip fracture patients was four-fold (RR 4.59, p < 0.0001) and 30-day mortality was 38.0% (HR 4.73, p < 0.0001). The case fatality rate for COVID-19 positive patients was 34.74%. Between-study heterogeneity for the pooled analysis was minimal (I2 = 0.00) whereas, random effects metaregression identified subgroup heterogeneity for male gender (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.002), dementia (p = 0.001) and extracapsular fractures (p = 0.01) increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 positive patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuang-Ting Yeh ◽  
Tzai-Chiu Yu ◽  
Ru-Ping Lee ◽  
Jen-Hung Wang ◽  
Kuan-Lin Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Osteoporotic hip fracture is a common general health problem with a significant impact on human life because it debilitates the patients and largely decreases their quality of life. Early prevention of fractures has become essential in recent decades. This can be achieved by evaluating the related risk factors, as a reference for further intervention. This is especially useful for the vulnerable patient group with comorbidities. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a major complication of liver cirrhosis, may increase the rate of falls and weaken the bone. This study evaluated the correlation between hepatic encephalopathy and osteoporotic hip fracture in the aged population using a national database. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2012. We included people who were older than 50 years with hepatic encephalopathy or other common chronic illnesses. Patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy were matched at a ratio of 1:4 for age, sex, and index year. The incidence and hazard ratios of osteoporotic hip fracture between the both cohorts were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results The mean age of the enrolled patients was 66.5 years. The incidence ratio of osteoporotic hip fracture in the HE group was significantly higher than that in the non-HE group (68/2496 [2.7%] vs 98/9984 [0.98%]). Patients with HE were 2.15-times more likely to develop osteoporotic hip fractures than patients without HE in the whole group. The risk ratio was also significantly higher in female and older individuals. The results were also similar in the comorbidity subgroups of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, senile cataract, gastric ulcer, and depression. Alcohol-related illnesses seemed to not confound the results of this study. Conclusions HE is significantly associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic hip fractures, and the significance is not affected by the comorbidities in people aged more than 50 years. The cumulative risk of fracture increases with age.


1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (S1) ◽  
pp. 127-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Waern ◽  
C. Christiansen ◽  
I. Gause-Nilsson ◽  
G. Lindstedt ◽  
A. Odén ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 257-265
Author(s):  
Firdevs Ezgi Uçan Tokuç ◽  
Fatma Genç ◽  
Abidin Erdal ◽  
Yasemin Biçer Gömceli

Many systemic problems arise due to the side effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used in epilepsy patients. Among these adverse effects are low bone mineral density and increased fracture risk due to long-term AED use. Although various studies have supported this association with increased risk in recent years, the length of this process has not been precisely defined and there is no clear consensus on bone density scanning, intervals of screening, and the subject of calcium and vitamin D supplementation. In this study, in accordance with the most current recommendations, our applications and data, including the detection of possible bone mineralization disorders, treatment methods, and recommendations to prevent bone mineralization disorders, were evaluated in epilepsy patients who were followed up at our outpatient clinic. It was aimed to draw attention to the significance of management of bone metabolism carried out with appropriate protocols. Epilepsy patients were followed up at the Antalya Training and Research Hospital Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic who were at high risk for osteoporosis (use of valproic acid [VPA] and enzyme-inducing drugs, using any AED for over 5 years, and postmenopausal women) and were evaluated using a screening protocol. According to this protocol, a total of 190 patients suspected of osteoporosis risk were retrospectively evaluated. Four patients were excluded from the study due to secondary osteoporosis. Of the 186 patients who were included in the study, 97 (52.2%) were women and 89 (47.8%) were men. Prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) was 42%, in which osteoporosis was detected in 11.8% and osteopenia in 30.6% of the patients. Osteoporosis rate was higher at the young age group (18-45) and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.018). There was no significant difference between male and female sexes according to osteoporosis and osteopenia rates. Patients receiving polytherapy had higher osteoporosis rate and lower BMD compared to patients receiving monotherapy. Comparison of separate drug groups according to osteoporosis rate revealed that osteoporosis rate was highest in patient groups using VPA+ carbamazepine (CBZ) (29.4%) and VPA polytherapy (19.4%). Total of osteopenia and osteoporosis, or low BMD, was highest in VPA polytherapy (VPA+ non-enzyme-inducing AED [NEID]) and CBZ polytherapy (CBZ+NEID) groups, with rates of 58.3% and 55.1%, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference between drug groups according to bone metabolism markers, vitamin D levels, and osteopenia-osteoporosis rates. Assuming bone health will be affected at an early age in epilepsy patients, providing lifestyle and diet recommendations, avoiding polytherapy including VPA and CBZ when possible, and evaluating bone metabolism at regular intervals are actions that should be applied in routine practice.


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