Clinical–epidemiological profile of the patient attended in a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) of a regional hospital in north-west of Spain

Abstract

IntroductionHip fractures constitute a capital public health issue associated with aging and frailty because of its impact on both quality of life and morbidity and mortality in older people. Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) have been proposed as tools to minimize this emergent problem. Material and methodsA prospective observational study was conducted with 101 patients treated for hip fracture by the FLS of a regional hospital between October 2019 and June 2021 (20 months). Epidemiological, clinical, surgical and management variables were collected during admission and up to 30 days after discharge. ResultsMean age of patients was 87.6±6.1 years and 77.2% were female. Some degree of cognitive impairment was detected at admission in 71.3% of patients using the Pfeiffer questionnaire, and 13.9% were nursing home residents, and 76.24% could walk independently before the fracture. Fractures were more commonly pertrochanteric (45.5%). Patients were receiving antiosteoporotic therapy in 10.9% of cases. The median surgical delay from admission was 26h (RIC 15–46h), the median length of stay was 6 days (RIC 3–9 days) and in-hospital mortality was 10.9%, and 19.8% at 30 days, with a readmission rate of 5%. DiscussionPatients treated in our FLS at the beginning of its activity were similar to the general picture in our country in terms of age, sex, type of fracture, and proportion of patients treated surgically. A high mortality rate was observed, and low rates of pharmacological secondary prevention were followed at discharge. Clinical results of FLS implementation in regional hospitals should be assessed prospectively in order to decide their suitability.