Modifiable lifestyle factors associated with fragility hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ukrainian guideline for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

INTRODUCTION

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a bone metabolic disorder caused by glucocorticoid (GC) use. It is one of the leading causes of secondary osteoporosis, increasing the risk of low-energy fractures, disability, and mortality. Although limited studies on GIOP epidemiology and treatment have been conducted in Ukraine, there were no national guidelines for its management. The aim was to create national guideline for the GIOP diagnosis, prevention, and treatment based on a comprehensive review of modern literature to enhance awareness within Ukraine's medical community, improve disease management, and reduce its socio-economic impact.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An Expert Group comprising 18 leading Ukrainian scientists from various fields was created for guideline development. A review of modern literature on GIOP epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and monitoring was conducted. Evidence synthesis followed the GRADE methodology, and the quality of recommendations was critically evaluated using the AGREE II tool.

RESULTS

The guideline comprises 12 statements covering GIOP screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. We highlight the need to raise awareness among healthcare providers and patients about the potential effects of GC therapy. Also, we outline approaches to clinical assessment of osteoporotic fracture risk in GC users and detail diagnostic and therapeutic methods currently available in Ukraine for managing GIOP.

CONCLUSION

The first Ukrainian national GIOP guideline is critical for healthcare providers across specialities. Endorsed by the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis, it is recommended for use in routine clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes and mitigate the disease's impact.

Educational gradient in hip fracture incidence in Norway. The Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS)

Examining fracture dynamics by socioeconomic status may inform healthcare and prevention. We found a higher risk of hip fracture in men and women with lower educational level in Norway. However, by age 90 + years, the cumulative incidence was higher in those with higher education, due to their higher life expectancy.

PURPOSE

Socioeconomic gradients are seen for several health outcomes in high-income countries. We aimed to examine possible educational gradients in risk of hip fracture in Norway and to describe the cumulative incidence of hip fracture by educational level.

METHODS

In a population-wide cohort of Norwegians aged ≥ 50 years, information on attained education from Statistics Norway was linked to hospital-treated hip fractures and deaths during 2002-2019. We estimated relative fracture risk by educational level (primary, secondary or tertiary) in Cox proportional hazards regression. We also examined the cumulative incidence over attained age by gender and educational level in competing risk regression.

RESULTS

The population included N = 1,389,858 individuals with 135,938 incident hip fractures. Compared with men who had attained tertiary education, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for hip fracture were 1.44 (1.40, 1.49) in men with primary education only and 1.26 (1.22, 1.29) in men with secondary education. In women, the corresponding estimates were 1.28 (1.25, 1.31) and 1.16 (1.13, 1.19). In the age range 50 to 90 years, the highest cumulative incidence of hip fracture was seen in those with primary education. The gradient gradually diminished with advancing age and was reversed in the oldest (> 90 years) in both genders.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a clear educational gradient in hip fracture incidence in both men and women in Norway, with a higher risk in people with lower education. Despite this, the cumulative incidence of hip fracture in old age was highest among people with higher education, due to their higher life expectancy.

Alcohol and drug use in adults younger than 60 years with hip fracture - A comparison of validated instruments and the clinical eye: A prospective multicenter cohort study of 218 patients

BACKGROUND

It is a common preconception that young individuals sustaining hip fractures have alcohol and/or drug use disorder. It is important to evaluate the actual use to avoid complications and plan the rehabilitation.

AIM

The primary objective was to assess alcohol and drug consumption in hip fracture patients <60 years using the validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) scores. We secondarily investigated the agreement between the instruments and the physicians' clinical evaluation of usage.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a sub-study of 91 women and 127 men from a multicenter cohort study of patients with an acute hip fracture treated at four hospitals in Denmark and Sweden. AUDIT and DUDIT forms were completed by the patients. In addition, the researchers made an evaluation of the patients' alcohol/drug use based on direct patient contact and information on previous alcohol/drug use from medical charts. AUDIT ranges 0-40 with 6 (women) and 8 (men) as the cut-off for hazardous use. DUDIT ranges 0-44 with cut-offs of 2 and 6 indicating drug-related problems.

RESULTS

According to the AUDIT, 29 % of the patients had a hazardous alcohol use (25 % women, 31 % men), whilst the clinical evaluation identified 26 % (24 % women, 28 % men). However, there was a low agreement between "the clinical eye" and AUDIT, as the clinical evaluation only correctly identified 35 of 56 individuals with AUDIT-scores indicating hazardous alcohol use. DUDIT equaled drug related problems in 8 % (5 % women, 10 % men), the clinical evaluation depicted 8 % with drug related problems (4 % women, 10 % men). The agreement was low between "the clinical eye" and DUDIT; only 7 of 15 with DUDIT-scores indicating drug related problems were correctly identified.

CONCLUSION

Hazardous alcohol consumption is more common in non-elderly hip fracture patients than in the general population. Considering both self-reported alcohol use and clinical evaluation, women have almost as high rate as men. DUDIT indicated drug related problems to be slightly more common than in the population. Still, a majority did not exhibit troublesome use of neither alcohol nor drugs. The two screening methods do not identify the same individuals, and further investigation in clinical practice is needed.

The hip fracture incidence in the high-risk area Oslo continues to decline

Oslo in Norway has had the highest incidence of hip fractures in the world. The incidence in Oslo has been thoroughly described every decade since the late 1970s. The incidence in Oslo has previously been higher compared to the rest of Norway but has now decreased to a level below the country average.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of hip fractures in Oslo in 2019 and compare it with the incidence rates from the previous four decades.

METHODS

Patients residing in Oslo in 2019 with a new hip fracture identified by searching the Oslo hospital's patient administrative systems and protocols from the operating theaters. The diagnosis was verified through medical records and/or radiographs. To compare with previous studies, the direct standardization method was used with the population of Oslo in 2019 as the standard.

RESULTS

A total of 758 hip fractures, 70% women, were identified in 2019. The age-standardized incidence rates per 10,000 person-years in 2019 (95% CI) were 45 (41.1-48.8) for women and 30 (25.8-33.8) for men. In women, there has been a continuous decline in age-standardized rates the last three decades and in men the last two decades. The most pronounced decline was seen in the oldest age groups over 70 years. There has been a secular decline in both cervical and trochanteric fractures; however, the decrease in trochanteric fractures was most distinct for males, with more than two times higher risk in 1996/1997 compared to 2019.

CONCLUSION

Incidence rates for hip fractures in Oslo in 2019 were the lowest rate reported since 1978. The decrease was significant for both men and women. For the first time, the incidence rates are below the national rates of Norway. However, the rates are still among the highest worldwide.

Impact of Vitamin D Status and Nutrition on the Occurrence of Long Bone Fractures Due to Falls in Elderly Subjects in the Vojvodina Region of Serbia

Bone fractures are a significant public health issue among elderly subjects. This study examines the impact of diet and vitamin D status on the risk of long bone fractures due to falls in elderly subjects in Vojvodina, Serbia. Conducted at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina in autumn/winter 2022-2023, the study included 210 subjects >65 years: 105 (F: 80/M: 15) with long bone fractures due to falls and 105 (F: 80/M: 15) controls. Groups were similar regarding age and BMI. Dietary intakes (by two 24-h recalls) and serum vitamin D levels were analyzed. The fracture group had a significantly lower median daily vitamin D intake (1.4 μg/day vs. 5.8 μg/day), intake of calcium, energy, proteins, fats, fibers, dairy products, eggs, fish, edible fats/oils, and a higher intake of sweets (p < 0.001 for all). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the fracture group (40.0 nmol/L vs. 76.0 nmol/L, p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified serum vitamin D as the most important protective factor against fractures, and ROC curve analysis indicated that serum vitamin D levels > 50.5 nmol/L decreased fracture risk. Nutritional improvements (increased intake of vitamin D and protein sources such as fish, eggs, and dairy), increased sun exposure, and routine vitamin D supplementation during winter are advised.

Risk factors for osteoporotic hip fracture among community-dwelling older adults: a real-world evidence study

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures in the older adults lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Although a low bone mineral density is considered the leading risk factor, it is essential to recognize other factors that could affect the risk of hip fractures. This study aims to evaluate the contribution of clinical characteristics, patient-reported outcomes, and muscle and aerobic capacity for hip fractures in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study with real world-data from subjects ≥ 60 years old attending an outpatient clinic in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from May 1, 2019, to August 22, 2022. Data about clinical characteristics (multimorbidity, medications of long-term use, sedative and or tricyclic medications, number of falls), patient-reported outcomes (self-perception of health, self-report of difficulty walking, self-report of vision problems, and self-report of falls) and muscle and aerobic capacity (calf circumference, body mass index, and gait speed) were retrieved from an electronic health record. The association of each potential risk factor and hip fracture was investigated by a multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

A total of 7,836 older adults were included with a median age of 80 years (IQR 72-86) and 5,702 (72.7%) were female. Hip fractures occurred in 121 (1.54%) patients. Multimorbidity was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (OR = 1.12, 95%CI 1.06-1.18) and each episode of fall increased the chance of hip fracture by 1.7-fold (OR = 1.69, 95%CI 1.52-1.80). Patient-reported outcomes associated with increased fracture risk were regular or poor self-perception of health (OR = 1.59, 95%CI 1.06-2.37), self-report of walking difficulty (OR = 3.06, 95%CI 1.93-4.84), and self-report of falls (OR = 2.23, 95%CI 1.47-3.40). Body mass index and calf circumference were inversely associated with hip fractures (OR = 0.91, 95%CI 0.87-0.96 and OR = 0.93, 95%CI 0.88-0.97, respectively), while slow gait speed increased the chance of hip fractures by almost two-fold (OR = 1.80, 95%CI 1.22-2.66).

CONCLUSION

Our study reinforces the importance of identified risk factors for hip fracture in community-dwelling older adults beyond bone mineral density and available fracture risk assessment tools. Data obtained in primary care can help physicians, other health professionals, and public health policies to identify patients at increased risk of hip fractures.

Demystifying the Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Osteoporosis

Background

Osteoporosis is a major health problem, globally. It is characterized by structural bone weakness leading to an increased risk of fragility fractures. These fractures commonly affect the spine, hip and wrist bones. Consequently, Osteoporosis related proximal femur and vertebral fractures represent a substantial, growing social and economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Indentification of the risk factors, clinical risk assessment, utilization of risk assessment tools and appropriate management that play a crucial role in reducing the burden of Osteoporosis by tackling modifiable risk factors.

Methods

This chapter explores various risk factors that are associated with Osteoporosis and provides an overview of various clinical and diagnostic risk assessment tools with a particular emphasis on evidence-based strategies for their prevention.

Conclusion

The role of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and perspectives such as newer diagnostic modalities, monitoring and surveillance approaches in prevention of risk factors in the pathogenesis of Osteoporosis is highlighted.

Incidence and risk factors for stroke after hip fracture: a meta-analysis

Hip fractures represent a high burden and are associated with mortality in up to 30% of the cases. Stroke complications can be devastating and increase mortality and disability in elderly patients. This study aimed to determine the overall incidence and risk factors for stroke in patients with hip fractures. A systematic search of the literature using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases was carried out. Studies have reported the incidence of stroke in patients > 50 years of age with hip fractures. Data were extracted according to PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42023384742). Data were combined using Review Manager version 5.4. A random-effects model was adopted if a significant heterogeneity was observed. The primary outcome was the incidence of stroke in patients with hip fractures. The secondary outcomes of interest included the influence on the incidence of demographic factors, associated conditions, habits, and analytical parameters. Of the 635 initially retrieved studies, 18 were included, with 256,197 patients. The mean age of the patients ranged from 55 to 84 years old. The overall incidence of stroke in patients with hip fracture was 6.72% (95% CI 4.37-9.07%. The incidence of stroke by region was highest in the American continent (8.09%, 95% CI 3.60-12.58%; P > 0.001). Regarding associated conditions diabetes significantly increased the risk of stroke (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.41-2.30). Respect to patient characteristics, BMI greater than 24.4 and female gender did not significantly increase the risk of stroke: (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.74-1.56) and (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.91-1.46). Lastly, lower albumin concentrations were a risk factor for stroke in patients with hip fracture (MD - 3.18, 95% CI - 4.06 to 2.31). In conclusion, the incidence of stroke after hip fracture was 6.72%. The incidence of stroke increases over time, and the closely associated risk factors are diabetes and low albumin level.

Relationships between longitudinal changes in body composition and bone mineral density in middle-to-older aged Australians

There are limited longitudinal data regarding relationships between changes in body composition and bone mineral density (BMD). In 3671 participants aged 46-70 years at baseline, ∆lean mass was a stronger determinant than ∆fat mass of ∆BMD over 6 years. Maintained or increased lean mass may slow down age-related bone loss.

PURPOSE

There are limited longitudinal data regarding relationships between changes in body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) with ageing. We examined these in the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study.

METHODS

We studied 3671 participants (2019 females) aged 46-70 years at baseline with body composition and BMD assessments by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after ~6 years. Relationships between changes in total body mass (∆TM), lean mass (∆LM) and fat mass (∆FM) with ∆BMD at total hip, femoral neck and lumbar spine were evaluated using restricted cubic spline modelling (accounting for baseline covariates) and mid-quartile least square means were compared.

RESULTS

∆TM was positively associated with ∆BMD of total hip and femoral neck in both sexes, and spine in females; in females but not males, associations plateaued at ∆TM above ~5kg for all sites. In females, ∆LM was positively associated with ∆BMD of all three sites with plateauing of the relationship at ∆LM above ~1kg. Women in the highest quartile of ∆LM (Q4, mid-quartile value +1.6 kg) had 0.019-0.028 g/cm2 less reduction in BMD than those in the lowest quartile (Q1, -2.1 kg). In males, ∆LM was positively associated with ∆BMD of total hip and femoral neck; men in Q4 (+1.6 kg) had 0.015 and 0.011 g/cm2 less bone loss, respectively, compared with Q1 (-2.7 kg). ∆FM was positively associated with ∆BMD of total hip only in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

∆LM is a stronger determinant than ∆FM of ∆BMD. Maintained or increased LM is associated with less age-related bone loss.

Muscle strength is associated with fracture risk obtained by fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) in women with breast cancer

Background

Women with breast cancer are at risk for the development of sarcopenia and occurrence of fractures. The initial and periodic screening of these conditions can prevent the risks of disability, poor quality of life, and death. The present study investigated the association between sarcopenia phenotypes and fracture risk, assessed by the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) in women with breast cancer.

Methods

Cross-sectional study. It included women aged between 40 and 80 years, diagnosed with Luminal subtype breast cancer, with time of diagnosis ≤ 12 months, who had not started endocrine therapy, did not have metastasis, had not been treated for another malignancy, and had no recurrences. Sociodemographic, habits and lifestyle, clinical, anthropometric, and body composition variables were considered. Muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, and physical performance were investigated using handgrip strength (HGS), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), and Timed Up and Go test (TUGT), respectively. Fracture risk was assessed using FRAX. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to verify the association between exposure variables and sarcopenia phenotypes. A significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted for all tests using the SPPS 25.0 program.

Results

Sixty-two women with a mean age of 58.1 ± 10.4 years were evaluated. Of these, 66.1% self-declared to be non-white, 41.9% and 71.0% did not consume alcohol or smoke, respectively, and 61.3% were insufficiently active. A total of 45.2% had clinical stage II carcinoma and 65.5% had the invasive breast carcinoma histological subtype. There was a predominance of adequacy of HGS (88.7%), ASMI (94.5%), and TUGT (96.8%), as well as low risk of hip fractures (85.5%) and major fractures (82.3%). HGS remained associated with FRAX hip fractures (p = 0.007) and FRAX major fractures (p = 0.007) in the adjusted models, while ASMI was associated with body mass (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Low muscle strength was the sarcopenia phenotype that remained associated with fracture risk in women with breast cancer, independently of sociodemographic factors, level of physical activity, and clinical factors. In addition to the assessment of probable sarcopenia, this measurement may point out the risk of fractures.

Weight Loss Interventions and Skeletal Health in Persons with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Weight loss is recommended for improving glycemic control and reducing cardiovascular risk factors in persons with diabetes. However, both diabetes and weight loss have been associated with detrimental skeletal health. This review aims to summarize recent study findings on the effects of lifestyle interventions for weight loss on skeletal health among persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RECENT FINDINGS

A few large-scale observational studies have demonstrated an increased fragility fracture risk associated with weight loss among persons with T2D. Randomized control trials in persons with T2D also have shown that intentional lifestyle interventions for weight loss are associated with a greater decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and an increase in the risk of fracture. The biological mechanisms underlying the compromised bone health during lifestyle interventions for weight loss are complex and not yet conclusive. However, there is evidence to suggest that bone loss and increased fracture risk during intentional weight loss may be mitigated by some intervention approaches, such as high protein intake, calcium supplementation, and resistance and balance training. There is still a lack of studies investigating the effects of different interventions for weight loss on skeletal health among persons with T2D. However, certain types of diet and physical activity intervention combined with bone monitoring and fracture risk prediction may help achieve weight loss goals and maintain skeletal health among persons with T2D during intentional weight loss.

Impact of Total Hip Replacements on the Incidence of Hip Fractures in Norway During 1999-2019. A Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS) Study

The knowledge about why hip fracture rates in Norway have declined is sparse. Concurrent with decreasing hip fracture rates, the rates of total hip replacements (THRs) have increased. We wanted to investigate if hip fracture rates continued to decline, and whether the increase in THRs had any influence on this decline, assuming that living with a hip prosthesis precludes fracture of the operated hip. Information on hip fractures in Norway 1999-2019 was available from the Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS) hip fracture database and population size were available in official population tables from Statistics Norway. Primary THRs (for any cause except hip fracture) 1989-2019 were obtained from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. We calculated the annual age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture by sex for the period 1999-2019. The hip fracture rates in a scenario with no hip prostheses were calculated by subtracting 0.5 persons from the population at risk for each prevalent hip prosthesis, considering that each person has two hips at risk of fracture. We estimated how much of the decline could be attributed to the increased prevalence of hip prostheses. From 1999 to 2019, age-standardized incidence rates of hip fracture decreased by 27% in women and 20% in men. The rates remained stable in those under 70 years and decreased in those 70 years and above. Excluding replaced hips from the population at risk led to higher incidence rates, and this impact was considerably larger at higher ages. The increased prevalence of hip prostheses over the period accounted for approximately 18% (20% in women and 11% in men) of the observed decline in hip fracture rates. In conclusion, the incidence of hip fractures continued to decline, and the increasing number of people living with hip prostheses contributed significantly to the observed declining time trends. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Incidence of hip fracture in underweight individuals: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Korea

BACKGROUND

Hip fracture is a major public health problem worldwide and being underweight is a risk factor for fractures. Few studies have investigated the association between being underweight and hip fracture in the general population. The present study investigated the incidence of hip fracture in a large population cohort based on detailed information about the degree of underweight.

METHODS

A nationwide retrospective cohort study of adults ≥40 years of age included 962,533 subjects who were not overweight or obese in 2009. The incidence and risk of hip fracture occurring between 2010 and 2018 was assessed based on the degree of underweight. Based on body mass index (BMI), the study population was categorized into normal (18.50-22.99 kg/m² ), mild (17.00-18.49 kg/m² ), moderate (16.00-16.99 kg/m² ), and severe underweight (<16.00 kg/m² ) groups. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for the hip fracture based on the degree of underweight in reference to the normal weight.

RESULTS

Compared with subjects who were normal weight, those who were classified as mild underweight (1.03/1000 person-years (PY) increase in incidence rate (IR); adjusted HR (aHR) 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.48-1.76), moderate underweight (2.04/1000 PY increase in IR; aHR 1.85; 95% CI 1.65-2.08), or severe underweight (4.58/1000 PY increase in IR; aHR 2.33; 95% CI 2.03-2.66) were at significantly increased risk of hip fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of underweight was significantly associated with risk of hip fracture. The subdivision of underweight helps to estimate fracture risk more accurately.

Changes in Underweight Status and Risk of Hip Fracture: A Korean Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Being underweight is associated with a high risk of hip fracture. However, the impact of change in underweight status on the risk of hip fracture is unknown. This study is performed to investigate the relationship between change in underweight status and risk of hip fracture. This study included 1,713,225 subjects aged ≥40 years who underwent two consecutive national health screenings between 2007 and 2009. We prospectively assessed the risk of hip fracture between 2010 and 2018 according to changes in underweight status. We divided the participants into four groups according to the change in underweight status: consistent non-underweight (non-underweight to non-underweight), became non-underweight (underweight to non-underweight), became underweight (non-underweight to underweight), and consistent underweight (underweight to underweight). Compared with the consistent non-underweight group, the became non-underweight (0.74/1000 person years (PY) increase in incidence rate (IR); adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42−2.07), became underweight (1.71/1000 PY increase in IR; adjusted HR 2.22; 95% CI 1.96−2.53), and consistent underweight (1.3/1000 PY increase in IR; adjusted HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.89−2.53) groups had a significantly increased risk of hip fracture (p < 0.001). Change in underweight status was significantly associated with a risk of hip fracture.