The association between the number of chronic conditions and treatment of patients who are at high risk for future fracture in the Ontario Fracture Screening and Prevention Program (FSPP)

Abstract

Summary

We compared medication prescription and initiation proportions among high-risk Fracture Screening and Prevention Program patients with multiple chronic conditions. Patients with two conditions were more likely to receive prescriptions and initiate prescribed medication than those with none. Post hoc analysis showed that patients with ≥ 3 conditions were less likely to be prescribed and to initiate medication, compared to those with two conditions. Tailored interventions are important for improving post-fracture care outcomes.

Purpose

To investigate the association between the number of chronic conditions and pharmacological treatment outcomes in high-risk patients who were screened through the Fracture Screening and Prevention Program (FSPP).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was employed to determine the association between the number of chronic conditions and treatment outcomes. All high-risk patients who were enrolled in the FSPP between June 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022, were included in the study. The number of self-reported chronic conditions available in the FSPP data was classified into four categories: (1) 0 condition; (2) 1 condition; (3) 2 conditions; and (4) ≥ 3 conditions. Multivariable logistic regression models were created with prescription and initiation as outcomes.

Results

In total, 11,245 patients were identified as high-risk for future fracture. Patients with two chronic conditions demonstrated a 26% higher odds of receiving a medication prescription, and those with two chronic conditions and prescribed bone-active medication had a 57% increased odds of initiating the treatment compared to individuals without chronic conditions. No significant differences in medication prescription or initiation were seen in those with 1 or ≥ 3 chronic conditions compared to those without chronic conditions. In post hoc testing, we saw a 25–30% significantly lower odds of medication prescription and initiation in patients reporting ≥ 3 chronic conditions when compared to those who reported only two chronic conditions.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that a large provincial secondary fracture prevention program resulted in higher odds of prescription and initiation of treatment in patients with two chronic conditions compared to those having no chronic conditions. Potential inequities in these treatment outcomes were found with a threshold of three or more chronic conditions. This highlights the need for tailored interventions and comprehensive support systems to improve fracture prevention outcomes for high-risk patients with multiple chronic conditions.