Implementation Of Fracture Liaison Service Research Articles

Clinical effectiveness of a fracture liaison service for geriatric hip fracture patients in Hong Kong

Introduction: Fragility hip fracture has become a huge public health burden with ageing population. Yet workup and treatment of osteoporosis following a fragility fracture remain under-utilised in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in preventing future fractures and mortality rate following hip fracture in Hong Kong. Investigation and treatment rate of osteoporosis were also assessed. Methods: A retrospective single-centre cohort study was conducted to study patients aged over 65 years admitted to our hospital for fragility hip fracture before and after FLS implementation. Patients who were recruited in the FLS programme following hospital admission from October 2020 to September 2021 were regarded as the intervention group, whereas those admitted from April 2019 to March 2020 were regarded as historical control. The follow up time was 15 months for both groups. Results: A total of 139 patients were included in the study, with 68 in the intervention group and 71 in the control group. The refracture rate dropped from 5.6% to 0% after FLS implementation, while the 15-month mortality rate increased slightly from 0% to 2.9%, both of which did not show statistical significance, with a p-value of .120 and .238 respectively. Post-injury bone density investigation rate increased from 8.5% to 60.3%, and antiosteoporotic treatment initiation rate increased from 19.7% to 97.1%. Both of them showed statistical significance ( p < .001). Treatment discontinuation rate decreased from 14.3% to 7.8%, with a p-value of .603. Conclusions: FLS implementation in Hong Kong was an effective tool to increase investigation and treatment rate of osteoporosis in geriatric hip fracture patients. Its impact on refracture and mortality rate remained insignificant in this cohort of patients. Further study with a longer follow up time and more delicate selection of participants may demonstrate a better outcome.

5144 Lessons Learned: Evaluation of a Fracture Liaison Service Quality Improvement Efforts

Abstract Disclosure: M.S. Rothman: None. D.R. Fixen: None. L.M. Schilling: None. A.M. Elsheikh: None. A.M. Marcus: None. S.J. Billups: None. Background: The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) care model, a care coordination program for patients experiencing a fragility fracture, is proven to improve management of patients with an osteoporotic fracture, but treatment initiation gaps persist. We describe the evolution of a centralized FLS within a university-based healthcare system, including impact of adding clinical pharmacist consultation and describe circumstances surrounding continued care gaps. Design: Cohort analysis of osteoporosis medication initiation before FLS, after initial implementation, and after addition of pharmacist consultation. Patients: Individuals aged 65 and older experiencing any fragility fracture between 7/1/16 - 3/31/22. Intervention: A centralized team outreached eligible patients, ordered dual x-ray absorptiometry and laboratory tests as needed, and scheduled an osteoporosis-focused primary care appointment. Three years after FLS implementation, clinical pharmacist consultative review was added prior to the primary care visit. Main Measures: Initiation of osteoporosis pharmacologic therapy, completion of DXA, primary care follow-up rate, and description of circumstances where therapy was not initiated. Key Results: Of 1204 new fractures between 7/1/16-3/31/22, 315 patients were enrolled in one of two FLS phases, and 89 eligible historical controls were identified. Medication initiation rates went from 22/89 (25%) pre-FLS to 201/428 (47%) after-FLS phase 1 [POST1], (p<0.001) and to 106/187 (57%) after FLS phase 2 (POST2), when clinical pharmacist consultation was added (p=0.03 versus POST1). DXA was completed in 56/89 (67%) of pre-FLS patients, 364/428 (85%) POST1 patients (p<0.001 versus pre), and 163/187 (87%) POST2 (p< 0.001 versus PRE, p=0.59 versus POST1). Of 375 patients who did not initiate osteoporosis medication, more in the combined post-FLS cohorts attended a follow-up primary care appointment (233/308, 76% attended, versus pre-FLS 41/67, 61% , p=0.016). Conclusion: An FLS including centralized outreach and care coordination significantly improved patient follow-up, DXA, and medication initiation. Addition of de-centralized pharmacist consultation further improved medication initiation rates. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Secondary osteoporosis prevention: three-year outcomes from a Fracture Liaison Service in elderly hip fracture patients

BackgroundHip fractures are the most serious fragility fractures due to their associated disability, higher hospitalization costs and high mortality rates. Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) programs have enhanced the management of osteoporosis-related fractures and have shown their clinical effectiveness.AimsTo analyze the effect of the implementation of a FLS model of care over the survival and mortality rates following a hip fracture.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study on patients over 60 years of age who suffered a hip fracture before and after the implementation of the FLS in our center (between January 2016 and December 2019). Patients were followed for three years after the index date. Mortality, complications and refracture rates were compared between the two groups using a Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsA total of 1366 patients were included in this study (353 before FLS implementation and 1013 after FLS implementation). Anti-osteoporotic drugs were more frequently prescribed after FLS implementation (79.3% vs 12.5%; p < 0.01) and there was an increase in adherence to treatment (51.7% vs 30.2%; p < 0.01). A total of 413 (40.8%) patients after FLS implementation and 141 (39.9%) individuals before (p = 0.47) died during the three-years follow-up period. A second fracture occurred in 101 (10.0%) patients after FLS implementation and 37 (10.5%) individuals before (p = 0.78). Patients after the implementation of the FLS protocol had a lower all cause one-year mortality [adjusted Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.74 (0.57–0.94)] and a decreased risk of suffering a second osteoporotic fracture [adjusted HR 0.54 (0.39–0.75) in males and adjusted HR 0.46 (0.30–0.71) in females].ConclusionsThe implementation of a FLS protocol was associated with a lower all-cause one-year mortality rate and a higher survivorship in elderly hip fracture patients. However, no three-year mortality rate differences were observed between the two groups. We also found a reduction in the complication and second-fracture rates.

Perspectives on Fracture Liaison Service in Austria: clinical and economic considerations.

Osteoporosis is a widespread disease and affects over 500,000 people in Austria. Fragility fractures are associated with it and represent not only an individual problem for the patients, but also an enormous burden for the healthcare system. While trauma surgery care is well provided in Vienna, there is an enormous treatment gap in secondary prevention after osteoporotic fracture. Systematic approaches such as the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) aim to identify patients with osteoporosis after fracture, to clarify diagnostically, to initiate specific therapy, and to check therapy adherence. The aim of this article is to describe the practical implementation and operational flow of an already established FLS in Vienna. This includes the identification of potential FLS inpatients, the diagnostic workup, and recommendations for an IT solution for baseline assessment and follow-up of FLS patients. We summarize the concept, benefits, and limitations of FLS and provide prospective as well as clinical and economic considerations for a city-wide FLS, managed from a central location. Future concepts of FLS should include artificial intelligence for vertebral fracture detection and simple IT tools for the implementation of FLS in the outpatient sector.

Lessons Learned: Evaluation of Fracture Liaison Service Quality Improvement Efforts in a Large Academic Healthcare System.

The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) care model, a care coordination program for patients experiencing a fragility fracture, is proven to improve management of patients with an osteoporotic fracture, but treatment initiation gaps persist. We describe the evolution of a centralized FLS within a university-based healthcare system, including impact of adding clinical pharmacist consultation, and describe circumstances surrounding continued care gaps. Cohort analysis of osteoporosis medication initiation before FLS, after initial implementation, and after addition of pharmacist consultation. Individuals aged 65 and older experiencing any fragility fracture between 7/1/16 and 3/31/22. A centralized team outreached eligible patients, ordered dual x-ray absorptiometry and laboratory tests as needed, and scheduled an osteoporosis-focused primary care appointment. Three years after FLS implementation, clinical pharmacist consultative review was added prior to the primary care visit. Initiation of osteoporosis pharmacologic therapy, completion of DXA, primary care follow-up rate, and description of circumstances where therapy was not initiated. Of 1204 new fractures between 7/1/16 and 3/31/22, 315 patients were enrolled in one of two FLS phases, and 89 eligible historical controls were identified. Medication initiation rates went from 22/89 (25%) pre-FLS to 201/428 (47%) after-FLS phase 1 [POST1] (p<0.001) and to 106/187 (57%) after FLS phase 2 (POST2), when clinical pharmacist consultation was added (p=0.03 versus POST1). DXA was completed in 56/89 (67%) of pre-FLS patients, 364/428 (85%) POST1 patients (p<0.001 versus pre), and 163/187 (87%) POST2 (p< 0.001 versus PRE, p=0.59 versus POST1).Of 375 patients who did not initiate osteoporosis medication, more in the combined post-FLS cohorts attended a follow-up primary care appointment (233/308, 76% attended, versus pre-FLS 41/67, 61%, p=0.016). An FLS including centralized outreach and care coordination significantly improved patient follow-up, DXA, and medication initiation. Addition of de-centralized pharmacist consultation further improved medication initiation rates.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of fracture liaison services: a Markov model using Dutch real-world data

SummaryThis study assessed the lifetime cost-effectiveness of a fracture liaison service (FLS) compared to no-FLS in the Netherlands from a societal perspective and suggested that FLS was cost-effective in patients with a recent fracture aged 50 years and older. The implementation of FLS could lead to lifetime health-economic benefits.IntroductionThe objective of this study was to investigate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of a fracture liaison service (FLS) compared to no-FLS in the Netherlands from a societal perspective and using real-world data.MethodsAnnual fracture incidence, treatment scenarios as well as treatment initiation in the years 2017–2019 were collected from a large secondary care hospital in the Netherlands. An individual-level, state transition model was designed to simulate lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Treatment pathways were differentiated by gender, presence of osteoporosis and/or prevalent vertebral fracture, and treatment status. Results were presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER). Both one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted.ResultsFor patients with a recent fracture aged 50 years and older, the presence of an FLS was associated with a lifetime €45 higher cost and 0.11 additional QALY gained leading to an ICER of €409 per QALY gained, indicating FLS was cost-effective compared to no-FLS at the Dutch threshold of €20,000/QALY. The FLS remained cost-effectiveness across different age categories. Our findings were robust in all one-way sensitivity analyses, the higher the treatment initiation rate in FLS, the greater the cost-effective of FLS. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses revealed that FLS was cost-effective in 90% of the simulations at the threshold of €20,000/QALY, with women 92% versus men 84% by gender.ConclusionThis study provides the first health-economic analysis of FLS in the Netherlands, suggesting the implementation of FLS could lead to lifetime health-economic benefits.

Effects of Fracture Liaison Service on Outcomes of Patients with Hip Fracture in Rural Area of an Asian Country.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) has been proven effective in reducing subsequent fractures and related mortality. However, more research is needed on the impact of FLS on the 30-day readmission rate and its effectiveness in rural hospitals. This study aims to assess the impact of FLS on clinical outcomes including readmission rates, subsequent fractures, and fracture-related mortality in rural areas of an Asain country. In a rural hospital in Taiwan, we conducted a two-year prospective cohort study on elderly individuals with fragility hip fractures. The study compared the clinical outcomes between the control group and the FLS-cohort group. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors contributing to 1-year mortality after injury. 556 patients were enrolled. (304 in the control group and 252 in the FLS group) The mean age was 79.8years. The findings revealed that the introduction of FLS did not result in significant differences in mortality, readmission, complication, subsequent fractures, or secondary hip fractures. However, there were notable improvements in the length of hospital stay and the proportion of patients receiving surgery within 48h following the implementation of FLS. Subgroup analysis showed that FLS patients who received anti-osteoporotic treatment had lower mortality and 30-day readmission rates. Factors associated with higher 1-year mortality included male, high ASA level, and delayed surgery. This study provides the real-life evidence of the effect of intensive FLS model in a rural hospital in an Asian country. While FLS did not show significant differences in certain clinical outcomes, it led to shorter hospital stays and increased timely surgeries. FLS patients receiving anti-osteoporotic treatment had better mortality and readmission rates. Further research is necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of FLS care in rural areas of Asia.

Fracture Liaison Service in Korea: 2022 Position Statement of the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures cause socioeconomic concerns, and medical system and policies appear insufficient to prepare for these issues in Korea, where the older adult population is rapidly increasing. Many countries around the world are already responding to osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures by adopting fracture liaison service (FLS), and such an attempt has only begun in Korea. In this article, we introduce the operation methods for institutions implementing FLS and characteristics of services, and activities of the FLS Committee for FLS implementation in the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research. In addition, we hope that the current position statement will contribute to the implementation of FLS in Korea and impel policy changes to enable a multidisciplinary and integrated FLS operated under the medical system.

Urban–rural differences in outcomes and management of vertebral fractures: A real-world observational study

A fracture liaison services (FLSs) and its modified services reduce refractures and mortality and can be cost-effective. Limited studies have addressed whether urban-rural differences exist in vertebral fracture outcomes and management. Therefore, the aims of the study were to investigate any urban-rural differences in refracture, mortality, prescription pattern, and associated factors of vertebral fractures after receiving assistance from an FLSs. Baseline characteristics and osteoporosis medication prescription patterns of participants were collected. After 1-year follow-up, mortality, refracture rate, and osteoporosis medication switching and adherence were evaluated. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify baseline correlates on one-year mortality. There was higher mortality rate in the rural group but no urban-rural difference in the 1-year refracture rate after implementation of FLSs and medication management services (MMSs). The types of osteoporosis medications prescribed for both groups were similar, but participants in the rural group were less likely to change their osteoporosis medications during the 1-year follow-up timeframe and with lower adherence rate. The likelihood of being older and having chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and neurological disease was higher in the rural group. Our multicomponent services have similar effectiveness in osteoporosis treatment between urban and rural areas. The overall adherence rate was lower in the rural group with higher mortality but no difference in the refracture rate in one year.

Implementation of a fracture liaison service. Experience with 177 patients

Every year about 9 million fragility fractures (FF) occur worldwide and 80% of these are underdiagnosed or undertreated. Aiming to close the gap of diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) were developed. To describe the implementation of the first FLS in Chile, its inclusion criteria, patient enrolment, treatment adherence and referrals during the first year. A FLS was implemented at a health care network composed by two hospitals. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) guidelines were applied with a nurse practitioner as the coordinator. From May 2020 to April 2021 all patients diagnosed with a FF in the emergency rooms were invited to participate. Patients with pathological fractures and active cancer were excluded. Demographical data, fracture location, previous fractures, treatment and adherence, and mortality were recorded. From 443 patients with a diagnosis of FF, 177 patients (40%) accepted to participate. Their mean age was 74 ± 13 years and 84% (149) were female. Forty eight percent (84) had a lower extremity FF. Hip fractures were the most common (67). Ninety-five patients reported previous FF and 11,2% (20) had received anti-osteoporotic treatment. At four months of follow-up, 62% (50) had received vitamin D and calcium supplementation and 20% (16) of those patients with an indication of anti-osteoporotic drugs, had received them. The implementation of the FLS was successful with a 40% enrolment of patients, receiving certification by the IOF.

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

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.

Impact of an Outpatient Fracture Liaison Service on Osteoporosis Evaluation Among Patients With Upper Extremity Fragility Fracture.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of implementation of an outpatient fracture liaison service (FLS) on completion rates of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and screening labs including 25-OH vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients with upper extremity (UE) fragility fractures. At our institution, 367 patients were treated in 2014-2015 for UE fragility fractures of the distal radius and proximal humerus before implementation of our outpatient FLS and 395 patients in 2017-2018 after implementation. Retrospective chart review was conducted to identify completed DXA scans within 2 years of fracture treatment and completed 25-OH vitamin D and PTH labs within 1 year of fracture treatment. There were no statistical differences in the demographics of patients treated for distal radial and proximal humeral fragility fractures during the 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 time periods. Implementation of the FLS resulted in a 9.9% increase (P value = .021) in completed DXA scans within 2 years of fracture treatment. Completed 25-OH vitamin D and PTH labs saw a significant increase of 17.1% and 23.8%, respectively (P values < .001). Implementation of an outpatient FLS can help to improve osteoporosis evaluation with completed DXA scans and 25-OH vitamin D and PTH labs.

Secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures: evaluation after two years of a Portuguese Fracture Liaison Service implementation

Secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures: evaluation after two years of a Portuguese Fracture Liaison Service implementation

A 2-year follow-up of a novel Fracture Liaison Service: can we reduce the mortality in elderly hip fracture patients? A prospective cohort study.

SummaryOsteoporosis is an underdiagnosed disease that results in bone fragility and risk of fractures. Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a secondary prevention model which identifies patients at risk for fragility fractures. The introduction of a FLS protocol showed an increase of anti-osteoporotic drug prescription and significant reduction of all-cause mortality.Introduction Hip fractures are the most severe osteoporotic fracture due to their associated disability and elevated risk of mortality. FLS programs have enhanced the management of osteoporosis-related fractures. Our objective is to analyze the effect of the FLS model over survival and 2-year mortality rate following a hip fracture.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study on patients over 60 years of age who suffered a hip fracture during 3 consecutive years, before and after the implementation of the FLS in our center (i.e., between January 2016 and December 2018). Patients’ information was withdrawn from our local computerized database. Patients were followed for 2 years after the hip fracture. Mortality and re-fracture rates were compared between the two groups using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsA total of 1101 patients were included in this study (i.e., 357 before FLS implementation and 744 after FLS implementation). Anti-osteoporotic drugs were more frequently prescribed after FLS implementation (583 (78.4%) vs 44 (12.3%); p < 0.01). There was an increase of adherence to treatment after FLS implementation (227 (38.9%) vs 12 (3.3%); p = 0.03). A total of 222 (29.8%) patients after FLS implementation and 114 (31.9%) individuals before FLS implementation (p = 0.44) died during the follow-up period. A second fracture occurred in 49 (6.6%) patients after FLS implementation and in 26 (7.3%) individuals before FLS implementation (p = 0.65). Patients who were treated with anti-osteoporotic drugs after the implementation of the FLS protocol had a lower all-cause 1-year and 2-year mortality compared with patients managed before the implementation of the FLS protocol (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–0.96; HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.69–1.09, respectively).ConclusionsThe implementation of a FLS protocol was associated with an increase of anti-osteoporotic treatment, higher adherence, and greater survival in elderly hip fracture patients. There was a significant reduction of all-cause mortality in the FLS patients treated with anti-osteoporotic. However, the application of the FLS did not affect the risk of suffering a second fragility fracture.

Fragility fractures: proposal of the best practice through the fracture coordination units: the experience of Mexico.

Fragility fractures represent a health problem in Mexico and in the world. This paper reviews and puts forward the implementation of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) as a feasible and cost-effective alternative inhealth institutions in our country through the identification, treatment, and follow-up of this type of fractures.

Expected Benefits and Budget Impact From a Microsimulation Model Support the Prioritization and Implementation of Fracture Liaison Services.

Osteoporotic-related fractures cause significant patient disability, leading to a growing burden on health care systems. Effective secondary fracture prevention can be delivered by fracture liaison services (FLSs), but these are not available in most countries. A major barrier is insufficient policy prioritization, helped by the lack of economic assessments using national data and providing estimates of patient outcomes alongside health care resource use and cost impacts. The aim of this study was to develop an economic model to estimate the benefits and budget impact of FLSs and support their wider international implementation. Five interconnected stages were undertaken: establishment of a generic patient pathway; model design; identification of model inputs; internal validation and output generation; and scenario analyses. A generic patient pathway including FLS activities was built to underpin the economic model. A state-based microsimulation model was developed to estimate the impact of FLSs compared with current practice for men and women aged 50 years or older with a fragility fracture. The model provides estimates for health outcomes (subsequent fractures avoided and quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]), resource use, and health and social care costs, including those necessary for FLSs to operate, over 5 years. The model was run for an exemplar country the size of the United Kingdom. FLSs were estimated to lead to a reduction of 13,149 subsequent fractures and a gain of 11,709 QALYs. Hospital-bed days would be reduced by 120,989 and surgeries by 6455, while 3556 person-years of institutional social care would be avoided. Expected costs per QALY gained placed FLSs as highly cost-effective at £8258 per QALY gained over the first 5 years. Ten different scenarios were modeled using different configurations of FLSs. Further work to develop country-specific models is underway to delivery crucial national level data to inform the prioritization of FLSs by policy makers. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

The effectiveness of Police General Hospital’s fracture liaison service (PGH’s FLS) implementation after 5 years: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesThe purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of fracture liaison service (FLS) after 5-year implementation to close the secondary fracture care gap, ensuring that patients receive osteoporosis assessment, intervention, and treatment, therefore, reducing the fracture risk at Police General Hospital (PGH). MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted. We studied male and female, ≥ 50 years old who presented with a fragility hip fracture and participated in PGH’s FLS from April 1, 2014–March 31, 2019 (5 years implementation). The sample size was 353 patients, with 1-year follow-up. The data were compared with a previous study, before the commencement of the FLS. ResultsAfter 1-year follow up, the mortality rates were 5.95% and there were only 8 patients who had secondary fractures (2.93%), which showed a decrease of 30% from before FLS implementation. Post-injury bone mineral density (BMD) rates were increased from 28.33% to 85.84%, osteoporosis treatment rates were increased from 40.8% to 89.38%, and the time to surgery and hospitalization decreased from 7.9 to 5.0 days, and 23.2 to 19.6 days, respectively, all with statistical significance (P < 0.001). However, the 1-year mortality rates were not significant when compared to the previous study. ConclusionsPatients with fragility hip fractures participating in FLS after 5-year implementation at PGH had significantly higher post-injury BMD and osteoporosis treatment rates and significantly shorter in time to surgery and hospitalization. This showed that secondary fracture rates were lower than before the project at 1-year of follow up.

Implementation of a fracture liaison service for patients with hip fracture cared for on a hospital medicine service

ABSTRACT Objective Hip fracture is a common and morbid condition. Prior studies have shown that the majority of patients with fragility fracture are not treated for underlying osteoporosis. Our hospitalist-led co-management service for patients with acute hip fracture had no system for evaluating and treating osteoporosis in this cohort. Our objective was to implement a fracture liaison service (FLS) to assist patients with acute hip fracture and assess subsequent impact on diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Methods We conducted a pre-post study design at our tertiary academic center, including patients >50 years old hospitalized with acute hip fracture. We implemented a FLS, whereby all patients received endocrinology consultation. Outcome measures included the proportion of patients evaluated for osteoporosis by time of hospital discharge, comparing pre-implementation (12 months) and post-implementation (9 months) cohorts. We also measured the proportions of patients evaluated for and offered treatment for osteoporosis within 3 months of discharge for patients with post-discharge encounters visible in the medical record. Results We identified 167 patients before and 124 after FLS implementation. In univariate analysis, the proportion of patients evaluated for osteoporosis before discharge increased from 0.6% to 72.6% (p < 0.001) pre- vs. post-implementation. The proportion of patients offered osteoporosis treatment within 3 months after discharge increased from 25.3% to 46.3% (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, post-implementation patients had higher odds of osteoporosis evaluation while hospitalized (OR = 470.4, p < 0.001) and higher odds of being offered osteoporosis treatment within 3 months (OR = 2.8, p = 0.008). Conclusions Establishment of an FLS partnered with a hospitalist-led co-management service for patients with hip fracture was associated with significant improvements in the proportions of patients evaluated and offered treatment for osteoporosis. Wider adoption of this model has the potential to improve care for patients with hip fracture by narrowing the osteoporosis treatment gap.

The burden of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: a scorecard and economic model

Objectives: Aging populations are contributing to an increased volume of osteoporotic fractures. The goals of this study were to (1) develop a scorecard on epidemiological burden, policy framework, service provision, and service uptake for osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia and (2) estimate the direct costs of managing osteoporotic fractures in Saudi Arabia.Methods: Osteoporosis data specific to Saudi Arabia were collected through a systematic literature review and surveys with osteoporosis experts. The data were used to build a scorecard, as done previously for the European Union and select Latin American countries. The scorecard applied traffic light colour coding to identify areas of risk in Saudi Arabia’s management of osteoporosis. The data were also used to parameterize a burden of illness model. The model estimated the direct medical costs of fractures among adults aged 50–89 years in Saudi Arabia. The model included hospitalization, testing, hip fracture surgery, and drug costs.Results: In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health was aware of impending increases in the number of fractures and had prioritized osteoporosis on the national agenda. Accordingly, reimbursement restrictions for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment were minimal. However, a national fracture registry and unified system for monitoring care were not in operation. This represents a critical gap in care that will continue to contribute to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of osteoporosis if not addressed. In total, 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures were estimated to occur in Saudi Arabia in 2019, with an annual cost of SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP). Hospitalization was the primary cost driver.Conclusions: In 2019, Saudi Arabia was expected to incur SR2.38 billion ($636 million USD; $1.55 billion PPP) in costs owing to 174,225 osteoporosis-related fractures. The establishment of a national fracture registry and implementation of fracture liaison services will be paramount to reducing the fracture burden.

Association Between Recurrent Fracture Risk and Implementation of Fracture Liaison Services in Four Swedish Hospitals: A Cohort Study.

Structured secondary preventions programs, called fracture liaison services (FLSs), increase the rate of evaluation with bone densitometry and use of osteoporosis medication after fracture. However, the evidence regarding the effect on the risk of recurrent fracture is insufficient. The aim of this study was to investigate if implementation of FLS was associated with reduced risk of recurrent fractures. In this retrospective cohort study, electronic health records during 2012 to 2017 were used to identify a total of 21,083 patients from four hospitals in Western Sweden, two with FLS (n = 15,449) and two without (n = 5634). All patients aged 50 years or older (mean age 73.9 [SD 12.4] years, 76% women) with a major osteoporotic index fracture (hip, clinical spine, humerus, radius, and pelvis) were included. The primary outcome was recurrent major osteoporotic fracture. All patients with an index fracture during the FLS period (n = 13,946) were compared with all patients in the period before FLS implementation (n = 7137) in an intention-to-treat analysis. Time periods corresponding to the FLS hospitals were used for the non-FLS hospitals. In the hospitals with FLSs, there were 1247 recurrent fractures during a median follow-up time of 2.2 years (range 0-6 years). In an unadjusted Cox model, the risk of recurrent fracture was 18% lower in the FLS period compared with the control period (hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-0.92, p = .001), corresponding to a 3-year number needed to screen of 61, and did not change after adjustment for clinical risk factors. In the hospitals without FLSs, no change in recurrent fracture rate was observed. Treatment decisions were made according to the Swedish treatment guidelines. In conclusion, implementation of FLS was associated with a reduced risk of recurrent fracture, indicating that FLSs should be included routinely at hospitals treating fracture patients. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.