Female geriatric patients more prone to Fragility Fractures and refractures: Study.

A recent study found that the risk factors for subsequent fragility fractures were female gender and older age groups and the duration of the second fracture was further reduced with increasing age. The study was published in the journal, "Archives of Osteoporosis."  

Osteoporosis is a progressive skeletal disease, that causes decreased bone mineral density in the older population. It mainly affects older patients and females specifically leading to fragility fractures. Previous studies suggested that females and older age increased the risk of refracture and older age at the first fracture also resulted in a shorter time to the second fracture. Researchers from Thailand conducted a study to examine the characteristics of the fragility fractures and refractures and the factors affecting the incidence and duration of the second fragility fracture. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2018 by collecting the data from electronic medical records at the Nan Provincial Public Health Office, Thailand. Patients aged ≥ 60 years with fragility fractures of the hip, wrist, vertebra, and proximal humerus from low-energy injuries were included. The characteristics of the first and second fractures and the factors that affected refracture incidence and duration were investigated. 

Results: 

• Among 4322 patients who were included in the study, 306 patients (7%) had subsequent fragility fractures.
• Risk factors of refracture included female and older age at the first fracture.
• Factor that resulted in a shorter time to second fracture was older age at the first fracture.
• Any type of the first fracture resulted in a similar risk and duration to subsequent fracture.
• Half (48%) and two-thirds (65%) of the second fractures occurred within 3 and 4 years, respectively.

Thus, the researchers concluded that Female and older age were risk factors for subsequent fragility fracture and older age resulted in a shorter time to the second fracture. They also suggested that a Refracture prevention program be initiated in patients with any type of first fragility fracture and should be continued for at least 3–4 years. 

For the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-022-01143-4 

Sriruanthong, K., Philawuth, N., Saloa, S. et al. Risk factors of refracture after a fragility fracture in elderly. Arch Osteoporos 17, 98 (2022).