Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal hip fracture patients after geriatric rehabilitation Changes over the last decade

Osteoporotic hip fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women, and their impacts on society are substantial. Although adequate osteoporotic treatment reduces the risk of subsequent fractures and also mortality, only a minor proportion of the patients receives sufficient therapy. The goal of the present study was to evaluate osteoporosis treatment in two different cohorts and to describe the changes after the implementation of a Geriatric Facture Center (GFC) in cooperation with a level 1 trauma center. A retrospective, single-center cross sectional study design was used. A total of 455 patients (70 years and older) were included at our department of geriatric medicine. The patients were split into two groups. The usual care (UC) group consisted of 327 patients admitted to our department from 2001-2004. The GFC group included 128 patients admitted from 2009-2010. In addition to recording osteoporosis therapy, we collected demographic data, comorbidities, and different functional parameters of the patients. The data were collected retrospectively using medical records. SPSS 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Of the patients, 43% in the GFC group received a specific antiresorptive or anabolic treatment (SAAT). Basic treatment with calcium and vitamin D3 was prescribed in 88% of the patients. The diagnosis osteoporosis was found in 73.4% of the discharge letters. In the UC group, the percentage of patients with a SAAT was 14.7%, calcium and vitamin D3 was prescribed in 30%, and the diagnosis was documented in 24.5%. All these differences are statistically significant (p < 0.0001). In the GFC group, better functional status and cognition were significantly associated with a higher rate of a prescribed SAAT, whereas age and comorbidities showed a negative association. Our results show that the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal hip fracture patients has significantly improved over the last decade. From our point of view, the main impact on this development is due to the implementation of a GFC with corresponding guidelines and treatment steps. In addition to structural changes, the improved evidence for osteoporosis treatment, especially of geriatric patients, has a positive influence on osteoporosis therapy.