Fracture Liaison Service and Its Role in Secondary Fracture Prevention in Malaysia: A Scoping Review

@#Introduction: Fragility fractures, which occur after a lowtrauma injury, increases with advancing age. Such fracture doubles the life-time risk of sustaining another fracture. This risk is highest in the immediate 18 months after the index fracture. However, most patients do not receive the appropriate risk assessment and intervention to reduce this risk. A coordinated model of care termed Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has been reported to address this treatment gap. Materials and methods: This scoping review aims to explore the potential role and delivery of FLS services in Malaysia. Scientific and non-scientific sources relevant to FLS were identified from electronic bibliographic databases, specialist journals and relevant websites. Findings were categorised into themes and presented narratively. Results: FLS services remain concentrated in the Klang Valley. Even within FLS services, many do not have extensive coverage to risk assess all fracture patients. These services are multidisciplinary in nature where there are links between different departments, such as orthopaedics, osteoporosis expertise, bone densitometry, rehabilitation, falls services and primary care. FLS was able to increase the number of people undergoing fracture risk assessment and treatment. The importance of FLS was highlighted by local experts and stakeholders. Its implementation and delivery are supported by a number of national guidelines. Conclusion: FLS is central to our national efforts to reduce the impending fragility fracture crisis in the coming years. Continued effort is needed to increase coverage within FLS services and across the country. Training, awareness of the problem, research, and policy change will support this endeavour.

A description of the risk factors related to fragility fractures in adults and their associated costs

Objective: to identify bone fragility risk factors associated with increased total fracture care costs at a clinic in Medellín, Colombia. Design: an observational study with retrospective and prospective measurements taken from the medical charts of patients admitted for fractures and followed until discharge. Frame of reference: Hospital Alma Mater de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Participants: four hundred fifty-two patients diagnosed with fragility fractures on admission. Main measurements: the prevalence of bone fragility risk factors, a description of the total care cost by risk factor and an estimate of the association between the risk factors and total costs. Results: Diabetes (24.3%) and active or passive smoking (21%) were the most prevalent fragility risk factors. Hip fractures were the most frequent and costly (36%, Md: COP 7,882,579). Fracture care was more costly for active or passive smokers (Md: COP 7,484,185), and those 75 years old or older (Md: COP7,057,678). According to the significant adjusted estimates (p<0.05), the median cost for active or passive smokers exceeds that of nonsmokers by more than COP 2,300,000, and every year of age increases the median cost by more than COP 90,000. Conclusions: this study emphasized that bone fragility is a public health problem. Factors like active or passive smoking and age were found to increase fragility fracture care costs, implying more complications and need for services. This adds to the evidence for strengthening monitoring programs to reduce the morbidity, mortality and direct costs of this disease in Colombia. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 47. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2022.2351).

Objetivo: identificar factores de riesgo de fragilidad ósea asociados al aumento de costos totales de atención de fracturas en una clínica de Medellín, Colombia. Diseño: estudio observacional con medidas retrospectivas y prospectivas tomadas de la historia clínica de pacientes atendidos por fractura y seguidos hasta su egreso. Marco de referencia: Hospital Alma Máter de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Participantes: cuatrocientos cincuenta y dos pacientes diagnosticados con fracturas por fragi lidad al ingreso. Mediciones principales: prevalencia de factores de riesgo de fragilidad ósea, descripción de costos totales de atención según factores de riesgo, y estimación de asociaciones entre factores de riesgo y costos totales. Resultados: diabetes (24.3%) y tabaquismo activo o pasivo (21%) fueron los factores de riesgo de fragilidad más prevalentes. Las fracturas de cadera fueron las más frecuentes y costosas (36%, Md: COP7 882 579). La atención de fracturas fue más costosa para pacientes fumadores activos o pasivos (Md: COP7 484 185), y de 75 años o más (Md: COP7 057 678). Según las estimaciones ajustadas significativas (p<0.05), los fumadores activos o pasivos tienen una mediana de costos de más de COP2 300 000 mayor que la de no fumadores, y cada año de edad incrementa la mediana de costos más de COP90 000. Conclusiones: este estudio enfatizó que la fragilidad ósea es un problema de salud pública. Se identificó que factores como fumar activa o pasivamente, y la edad aumenta los costos de atención de fractura por fragilidad implicando mayores complicaciones y necesidad de servicios. Esto añade a la evidencia para fortalecer los programas de vigilancia que reduzcan la morbimortalidad y costos directos de esta enfermedad en Colombia. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 47. DOI:https://doi.org/10.36104/amc.2022.2351).

Factors affecting mortality in nonagenarian population following surgery for fragility hip fractures: An experience from a tertiary level trauma center in India

Introduction: Fragility hip fractures in nonagenarian patients pose a great challenge in management. To the best of our knowledge, no study has previously evaluated the outcomes and risk factors for mortality after hip fractures in this subgroup of population from the Indian subcontinent. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed on nonagenarian patients (aged ?90) who underwent surgery for hip fractures between March 2016 and March 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: “survivor group” (Group A) and “mortality group” (Group B). The demographic data, type of fracture, side of fractured limb, preinjury ambulatory status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, comorbidities, time interval from injury to surgery, operative time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative ambulatory status were recorded from hospital medical records and were studied between the two groups. The follow-up duration of the study was 1 year. Results: Thirty-four patients were included in the study. Both the groups had 17 patients each. Cardiac dysfunction was the most common cause of mortality. The time interval from injury to surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 11.2), gender (OR = 0.23) and postoperative mobility status (OR = 0.07) were found to be significantly different between the two groups. No significant difference in ASA grade, comorbidities, fracture type, preinjury ambulatory status, operative time, and length of hospital stay was seen between the two groups. Conclusions: Risk factors for mortality after hip fracture surgery in the nonagenarian population are male gender, delay in surgery (>3 days) and poor ambulatory status in the postoperative period. Hence, the aim for such patients with hip fractures should be to perform an early surgery and encourage an early ambulation.

Osteoporotic fractures in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Argentina: a matched retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background: To compare the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with matched controls from a university hospital. Methods: Consecutive RA patients (n = 100) were matched (age and sex) with controls (1:2). The follow-up period began at the index date, defined as the date of diagnosis for RA patients and the date of the first medical claim at the Health Management Organization (HMO) for non-RA patients. Fracture incidence rates per 1000 persons-years (PY) for distinct types of fractures were calculated. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with fractures. Results: One hundred RA patients were followed for a total of 975.1 patients-years and 200 controls for 1485.7 patients-years. No difference was found in the overall fracture incidence rate per 1000 PY between RA and controls (19.5, 95% CI 12.7-28.6 vs 12.1, 95% CI 7.7-18.7, p =0.07). In the Cox regression analysis, only age (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, p = 0.006) and history of a prior fracture (HR 9.85, 95% CI 2.97-32.64, p < 0.001) were associated with fractures after the index date. The stratified analysis of the fractures by location showed that only the vertebral fractures were more frequent in RA patients compared with controls (12.9 per 1000 PY, 95% CI 8.9-25.8, vs. 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8.1, respectively, p =0.01). Conclusion: Patients with RA didn't show an overall increased risk of osteoporotic fractures compared with matched controls, but vertebral fractures were more frequently observed in patients with RA.

Lo que debe conocer un traumatólogo sobre osteoporosis y fracturas por fragilidad ósea / What an Orthopedic Surgeon Should Know of Osteoporosis and Bone Fragility Fractures

RESUMEN Introducción: La osteoporosis es la enfermedad ósea más común de los adultos mayores y constituye un importante problema de salud pública en todo el mundo. Objetivo: Actualizar algunos conceptos sobre osteoporosis y su tratamiento. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de publicaciones entre 2010-2020 en inglés, con los términos: "osteoporosis", "tratamiento de la osteoporosis", "fracturas por osteoporosis". Resultados: La osteoporosis tiene gran impacto no solamente desde el ámbito clínico, sino también económico y social. Su tratamiento incluye medidas generales y el empleo de diversos grupos de fármacos. La posibilidad de fracturas por fragilidad en muñeca, columna y cadera es considerable lo que determina morbilidad y mortalidad elevadas(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in aged adults and it constitutes a major public health problem throughout the world. Objective: To update concepts on osteoporosis and treatment. Methods: A review of publications from 2010 to 2020 in English was carried out, using the terms "osteoporosis", "treatment of osteoporosis", "osteoporosis fractures". Results: Osteoporosis has great impact not only clinically, but economically and socially as well. Its treatment includes general measures and the use of various groups of drugs. The possibility of fragility fractures in the wrist, spine and hip is significant, which determines high morbidity and mortality(AU)

Fractura de cadera y geriatría: una unión necesaria / Hip fracture and geriatrics: a necessary union

Las personas mayores con fractura de cadera tienen un aumento del riesgo de mortalidad de 5 a 8 veces por todas las causas, y un riesgo mucho mayor de institucionalización por pérdida funcional, ya que solo el 50% de los pacientes que sobreviven, recuperan la actividad de la vida diaria previa a la fractura. Las intervenciones para prevenir dichos resultados, incluyendo una segunda fractura, se transforma en el objetivo principal en estos pacientes. El modelo de atención de ortogeriatría es un enfoque de atención multidimensional para los pacientes que sufren una fractura de cadera, que por lo general, es secundario a una caída desde su propia altura, conocida como fractura por fragilidad. Este modelo de atención desarrollado por geriatras y traumatólogos con la asistencia de un equipo multidisciplinario, incluye una evaluación integral perioperatoria y un equipo de enfermería centrada en la función premórbida del paciente, la cognición, las comorbilidades, que permite crear un plan individualizado, para ser monitorizado y asegurar su cumplimiento, los primeros dos años después de la fractura. Este esquema de trabajo ha demostrado mejorar el retorno a la función previa y la disminución de la mortalidad, con un costo reducido o un aumento de utilidad expresada en calidad de vida, por lo que es la atención más rentable para los pacientes que sufren una fractura de cadera.

Older people with hip fracture have an increased risk of mortality 5 to 8 times, for all causes and a much higher risk of institutionalization due to functional loss, because only 50% of patients who survive, recover the activity of daily life before the fracture. Interventions to prevent such results, including a second fracture, become the principal objective in these patients. The orthogeriatric care model, is a multidimensional approach for patients who suffer a hip fracture, which is usually secondary to a fall from their own height, known as a fragility fracture. This model of care developed by geriatricians and traumatologists with help of a multidisciplinary team, includes a comprehensive perioperative assessment and a nursing team focused on the premorbid patient state, cognition, comorbidities, which allows creating an individualized plan, to be monitored and ensure compliance, the first 2 years. This work scheme has been shown to improve the return of the function and the reduction of mortality at a reduced cost or an expressed utility in quality of life, making it the most cost-effective care for patients suffering from a hip fracture.

Effects of sarcopenia on the risks of osteoporosis and fragility fractures among community-dwelling middle and old age people: a systematic review and meta-analysis / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between sarcopenia and the risks of osteoporosis and fragility fractures among community-dwelling middle and old people (≥50 years) . Methods OVID/Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science ( SCI ) , China National Knowledge Infrastructure ( CNKI) , and Chinese WanFang Database were searched systematically for literatures related to the relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis and fragility fractures from January 1987 to July 2018. The searched litera-tures were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the literatures were evaluated by using the risk assessment tool NOS ( Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) and AHRQ ( Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) . Meta-regression analysis was used to explore the cause of heterogeneity between studies. The sub-group analysis was used to assess the differences in the risk of osteoporosis based on the important characteristic variables, such as gender, ethnicity, age, diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia, and outcome type. Sensitivity anal-ysis and trim and fill method were conducted to test the stability of the results of this Meta-analysis. Data col-lected and summarized by Stata 12. 2 software. Results A total of 23 studies in line with quality requirements were included eventually, including 56, 544 subjects. The results of this Meta-analysis were relatively robust. Compared with non-sarcopenia, the relative risk ( RR ) for osteoporosis among subjects with sarcopenia was 1. 61 (95％ CI: 1. 42～1. 82, P<0. 00001). Especially, compared with postmenopausal women RR=1. 37 (95％ CI: 1. 23-1. 53, P<0. 0001) and yellow race RR=1. 53 (95％ CI: 1. 34-1. 75, P<0. 0001), sar-copenia had a higher impact trend on the risk of osteoporosis in older men RR=2. 26 ( 95％ CI: 1. 71-2. 98, P<0. 0001 ) and Caucasian RR = 2. 03 ( 95％ CI: 1. 46-2. 81, P<0. 0001 ) . Conclusion Among community-dwelling middle and old aged people (≥50 year) , sarcopenia increases the risk of osteoporosis and fragility fracture by 61％ and 59％ -61％ significantly, respectively. Middle and old aged people should be pre-vented and screened early for sarcopenia, which attributes to identify high risk groups of fragile fractures and re-duce the risk of adverse outcomes.

Osteoporosis liaison service in Japan

A fracture liaison service (FLS) is a secondary fracture prevention program that is led by a coordinator. A program called the osteoporosis liaison service (OLS), which includes FLS, was first implemented in Japan and has become popular for solving problems related to osteoporosis treatment. OLS and FLS have the same purpose, namely preventing fragility fractures, but while FLS focuses mainly on secondary fracture prevention in fracture patients, OLS addresses this issue as well as primary fracture prevention at clinics and in communities.

Osteoporosis en el hombre, un tema poco visible: a little visible issue / Osteoporosis in men: a little visible issue

Con el envejecimiento de la población, la osteoporosis y las fracturas por fragilidad constituyen un problema grave de salud, en particular, en la mujer; no obstante, en los hombres esta entidad se asocia con mayor discapacidad y mortalidad. En nuestro medio la información médica y las publicaciones relativas a la osteoporosis en el hombre adulto mayor son escasas. Se propone, con este artículo, actualizar el tema a partir de los resultados de publicaciones nacionales, e identificar la frecuencia de la mortalidad por fracturas por osteoporosis en el hombre adulto mayor cubano. En la base de datos Scielo Cuba, mediante el descriptor osteoporosis, se obtuvieron todos los artículos relacionados con el tema. En los anuarios de salud se buscaron la mortalidad por accidentes, así como la morbilidad por fracturas. En ambos casos la búsqueda estuvo restringida a los años 2000-2016. En la base de datos Scielo Cuba se identificaron 23 artículos, y en ninguno el objetivo estuvo relacionado con la osteoporosis en el hombre, aunque en 5/14 de los artículos originales entre los sujetos hubo hombres adultos mayores. La Guía cubana para diagnóstico y tratamiento de la osteoporosis, no incluye criterios para ser aplicados en los varones. En los anuarios de salud no fue posible identificar la osteoporosis como entidad. Con independencia de los beneficios que para la salud tiene la población cubana en lo relacionado con la osteoporosis, en el hombre adulto mayor se identifican espacios de vacío, tanto epidemiológicos como clínicos(AU)

With population aging, osteoporosis and fractures caused by fragility are a serious health problem, particularly in women; nevertheless, in men, this entity is associated with greater disability and mortality. In our environment, medical information and publications related to osteoporosis in elder men are scarce. The purpose of this article is to update the topic based on the results of national publications, and to identify the frequency of mortality due to osteoporotic fractures in Cuban elder men. In the Scielo Cuba database, through the osteoporosis descriptor, all the articles related to the topic were found. In the health yearbooks, mortality due to accidents was sought, as well as morbidity due to fractures. In both cases, the search was restricted to the years 2000-2016. In the Scielo Cuba database, 23 articles were identified, and in none of them the objective was related to osteoporosis in men, although in 5/14 of the original articles among the subjects there were elder men. The Cuban Guide for diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis does not include criteria to be applied in men. In the health yearbooks it was not possible to identify osteoporosis as an entity. Regardless the health benefits Cuban population has in relation to osteoporosis, in the particular case of elder men gaps are been identified, both epidemiological and clinical(AU)

Surgical treatment of severe osteoporosis including new concept of advanced severe osteoporosis

Severe osteoporosis is classified as those with a bone mineral density (BMD) T-score of −2.5 or lower, and demonstrate one or more of osteoporotic, low-trauma, fragility fractures. According to the general principle of surgical approach, patients with severe osteoporosis require not only more thorough pre- and postoperative treatment plans, but improvements in surgical fixtures and techniques such as the concept of a locking plate to prevent bone deformity and maximizing the blood flow to the fracture site by using a minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis. Arthroplasty is often performed in cases of displaced femoral neck fracture. Otherwise internal fixation for the goal of bone union is the generally accepted option for intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, and femoral shaft fractures. Most of osteoporotic spine fracture is stable compression fracture, but vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be performed some selective patients. If neurological paralysis, severe spinal instability, or kyphotic deformity occurs, open decompression or fusion surgery may be considered. In order to overcome shortcomings of the World Health Organization definition of osteoporosis, we proposed a concept of ‘advanced severe osteoporosis,’ which is defined by the presence of proximal femur fragility fracture or two or more fragility fractures in addition to BMD T-score of −2.5 or less. In conclusion, we need more meticulous approach for surgical treatment of severe osteoporosis who had fragility fracture. In cases of advanced severe osteoporosis, we recommend more aggressive managements using parathyroid hormone and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand monoclonal antibody.

Clinical aspects and management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in patients with diabetes

Both diabetes and osteoporosis are assuming epidemic proportions throughout the world. Accumulating data suggest that both types 1 and 2 diabetes are associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures. This increased risk appears to be largely independent of bone mineral density (BMD) which is most often noted to be low in type 1 diabetes and normal or increased in type 2 diabetes. This review explores the clinical characteristics of bone fragility in patients with diabetes and highlights studies that have evaluated BMD and fracture prediction tools in these patients. It also briefly reviews the current management principles of osteoporosis in diabetes, with special emphasis on the impact of diabetes medications on bone health as well as explores the efficacy of currently available antiosteoporosis pharmacotherapy in the diabetic population.

Medical treatment of severe osteoporosis including new concept of advanced severe osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone strength, leading to an increased risk of fracture. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis as a bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations below that of a young adults (T-score of -2.5 or lower). Severe osteoporosis is differentiated from osteoporosis by the presence of one or more fragility fractures in addition to this T-score. However, the current WHO definition may be insufficient to reflect the diverse spectrum of osteoporosis or severe osteoporosis, which can encompass various number and severity of prevalent fractures. To overcome these shortcomings of the WHO definition of osteoporosis, we propose a concept of 'advanced severe osteoporosis', which is defined by the presence of proximal femur fragility fracture or two or more fragility fractures in addition to BMD T-score of -2.5 or less. Based on the previous clinical trials and post-hoc analyses, we recommend selective estrogen receptor modulators, bisphosphonates, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) monoclonal antibody, and parathyroid hormone for the medical treatment of severe osteoporosis. In cases of advanced severe osteoporosis or osteoporosis that does not respond to previous anti-osteoporotic treatments, we also recommend parathyroid hormone, bisphosphonates, and RANKL monoclonal antibody. In conclusion, we need more precise assessment of osteoporosis and further stratification of the disease by number of prevalent fractures in addition to BMD. More aggressive managements should be provided for those with advanced severe osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis: Current Management Guidelines.

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial progressive skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture. Fragility fractures, the consequence of osteoporosis, are responsible for excess mortality, morbidity, chronic pain, admission to hospitals and economic costs. Approximately 1.6 million hip fractures occur each year worldwide and the incidence is set to increase to 6.3 million by 2050. Preventive measures should be started at an early age and should include smoking cessation and weight-bearing exercises. Pharmacologic prevention methods include calcium supplementation and administration of raloxifene or bisphosphonates. No treatment can completely reverse established osteoporosis. Early intervention can prevent osteoporosis in most people. For patients with established osteoporosis, medical intervention can halt its progression. Currently available therapies include bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), denosumab, teriparatide, calcitonin and strontium ranelate. Cathepsin K inhibitors (balicatib and odanacatib) are among recent drugs under development. Saracatinib, a novel orally available competitive inhibitor of Src kinase has been shown to inhibit bone resorption in vitro. Lasofoxifene, bazedoxifene and arzoxifene are new SERMs in late-stage treatment trials. Nonpharmacological measures are required when patients experience adverse effects because of drug therapy, when symptoms are not controlled by drug therapy alone or when patient is not willing to take drugs for a prolonged duration.