Health services research, economics and outcomes research

Abstract

Results: In the study period, 464 patients were referred after a spinal fracture, 264 after a hip fracture and 1500 were referred after a forearm fracture. As would be expected, there were more women in the forearm fracture group than the spine group: 1361 (90.7%) vs 315 (67.9%) P < 0.01. The hip group had a similar proportion of females as the spine group (70.4%) and was also significantly different from the Colles population. Mean age was lower in the forearm fracture group than the spine and hip fracture group: 66.2 yrs (S.D. 11.0) vs 68.6 yrs (S.D. 11.8) vs 68.7 yrs (S.D.10.9) P < 0.01 for both differences. The prevalence of osteoporosis was highest in the hip fracture group 122 (46.2%) than in spine group 193 (41.6%) and 494 (32.9%) in the hip group; P ¼ 0.001 for both. The site of lowest BMD was in the spine in 230 (49.6%) of the spine group vs 635 (42.4%) in the forearm group; P ¼ 0.006. There was no difference in body mass index, prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, family history of fracture, prevalence of steroid use between the groups. There was a trend for a higher history of alcohol excess in the spinal group: 39 (8.4%) vs 88 (5.9%); P ¼ 0.05. Conclusions: Despite having sustained a fracture, the prevalence of diagnosed osteoporosis was not high in either group. Differences exist in age and area where the BMD is lowest. This enhances the thought that BMD is not the perfect predictor of fractures and that confounders other than known and described risk factors predispose to fractures in this population. Disclosure statement: M.B., Roche - Honoraria and travel to meetings, Merck - Honoraria and travel to meetings, Pfizer Honoraria and travel to meetings, Wyeth - Honoraria and travel to meetings, Abbott - Honoraria and travel to meetings, UCB celltech Travel to meetings, Servier - Honoraria and travel to meetings. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.