Undertreatment of osteoporosis following hip fracture in the elderly

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009 Jul-Aug;49(1):153-7. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2008.06.007. Epub 2008 Aug 15.

Abstract

The national Finnish guidelines for medical treatment of hip fracture patients are: osteoporosis medication and the daily concomitant use of vitamin D and calcium supplements. We investigated the post-fracture medical therapy for osteoporosis and the calcium and vitamin D therapy among hip fracture patients in two Finnish hospitals. The pre-fracture osteoporosis medication and use of calcium and vitamin D supplements of the patients were inquired on admission. The patient-specific use of osteoporosis medication and of prescribed calcium and vitamin D therapy during the follow-up time were checked from The Finnish Social Insurance Institution. At the end of the follow-up, those who were alive were inquired about the use of medication at the time. Eight percent of the 223 patients used osteoporosis medication and 8% used prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements before the fracture. During the follow-up, the figures were 39% (52/133) and 53% (70/133), respectively, and at the end of the follow-up, correspondingly, 25% (29/114) and 44% (50/114). The follow-up time was 19.5-35 months. The post-fracture medical therapy for osteoporosis was insufficient. More effort should be focused on the secondary prevention following hip fracture in order to ensure the recommended treatment of osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Calcium / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hip Fractures / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteoporosis / drug therapy
  • Osteoporosis / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Calcium