How can a patient with a hip fracture reduce the risk of repeat fractures?

Physicians Don’t Recognize Osteoporosis

In 2000, Kamel et al. retrospectively studied the charts of 170 patients age 65 and older who were hospitalized with a hip fracture, and found that fewer than 5% had been diagnosed with or treated for osteoporosis.7 Follin et al., noted similar results in 2003, reporting that only 14% of the patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis prior to discharge and 75% of patients received no therapy.10

Follin et al., also noted patients who received a diagnosis of osteoporosis prior to discharge were more likely to receive therapy. Sixty-five percent of patients diagnosed with osteoporosis received treatment as opposed to 20% of those not diagnosed. They surmised the lack of treatment may relate to the lack of recognition that a fragility fracture often means osteoporosis.10

Hospitalist Consult, Treatment of Osteoporosis in Hip Fracture Patients

A 2003 retrospective analysis from a university-based academic hospital aimed to determine whether hospitalist consultation during admission for a hip fracture resulted in improved treatment of osteoporosis. The results indicated 29% of patients received treatment for osteoporosis at the time of discharge. Twenty percent received calcium, and only 7% received a bisphosphonate. Those who received hospitalist consultation did not have a significant improvement in osteoporosis treatment, thus representing a huge missed opportunity.11

Back to the Case

You recognize that, because your patient has sustained a fragility fracture, she has osteoporosis and you wish to initiate treatment before she leaves the hospital. Her 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is 18 ng/mL. You commence 50,000 units of vitamin D once weekly and advise that she have her vitamin D level checked again in three months by her primary care provider. She has no contraindications, thus you also initiate a bisphosphonate and remind her to take 1,200 mg of calcium daily.

You encourage smoking cessation, decreased alcohol use, a simplified medication regimen, and weight-bearing exercises in the future. In addition, you ensure she has the proper gait stability items at discharge. You arrange a visiting nurse/therapist to assess her home for fall risks. Lastly, you schedule an outpatient bone mineral density scan and arrange a follow-up with her primary care provider. TH

Dr. Baker is a hospitalist at Ohio State University. Dr McDermott is professor of medicine and clinical pharmacy and endocrinology and diabetes practice director, University of Colorado Denver.

References

1. Berry SD, Samelson EJ, Hannan MT, et al. Second hip fracture in older men and women. The Framingham Study. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(18):1971-1976.
2. Juby AG, De Gues-Wenceslau CM. Evaluation of osteoporosis treatment in seniors after hip fracture. Osteoporosis Int. 2002;13:205-210.
3. Gardner MJ, Brophy RH, Demetrakopoulos D, et al. Interventions to improve osteoporosis treatment following hip fracture. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2005;87-A(1):3-7.
4. Gardner MJ, Flik KR, Mooar P, Lane JM.Improve-ment in the undertreatment of osteoporosis following hip fracture. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2002;84-A(8):1342-1348.
5. Seeman E, Delmas PD. Bone quality-the material and structural basis of bone strength and fragility. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(21):2250-2261.
6. Holick, MF. Vitamin D Deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-281.
7. Glauser T. Practical strategies for managing osteoporosis: An evidence-based approach to risk assessment and treatment. Dialogues in Clinical Practice. 2007.
8. Morin S, Rahme E, Behlouli H, Tenenhouse A, Goltzman D, Pilote L. Effectiveness of antiresorptive agents in the prevention of recurrent hip fractures. Osteoporosis Int. 2007;18:1625-1632.
9. Lyles KW, Colon-Emeric CS, Magaziner JS, et al. Zolendronic acid and clinical fractures and mortality after hip fracture. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:1799-1809.
10. Follin SL, Black JN, McDermott MT. Lack of diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in men and women after hip fracture. Pharmacotherapy.2003;23(2):190-198.
11. Jachna CM, Whittle J, Lukert B, Graves L, Bhargava T. Effect of hospitalist consultation on treatment of osteoporosis in hip fracture patients. Osteoporosis Int. 2003;14:665-671.