DO OLDER PATIENTS "WARN" THAT THEY WILL SUFFER A NEW FRACTURE?

Objective: To evaluate whether patients older than 60 years admitted for fracture treatment had a history of previous fracture, a diagnosis of osteoporosis, or were under treatment for bone fragility.

Methods: Retrospective study including 100 patients older than 60 years with fracture. Fracture location, bone densitometry within the past two years, previous diagnosis and osteoporosis treatment, and previous fracture within the past five years were assessed. Using Fisher's test, it was evaluated whether there was an association between previous fracture and osteoporosis treatment.

Results: The most prevalent fracture was in the proximal femur (48%). Of the patients, 18% had fracture in the last five years, with 22% of them diagnosed with osteoporosis, and 22% under treatment. Previous fracture in the last five years was not associated with having a diagnosis of osteoporosis, having had bone densitometry, or being under treatment for osteoporosis.

Conclusion: Among patients with previous fracture, only 22% were aware of their diagnosis of osteoporosis, and less than 25% of them were under bone fragility treatment. Previous fracture in the past five years had no association with having a diagnosis of osteoporosis, having had bone densitometry, or being on osteoporosis treatment. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.