Meta-analysis of risk factors for the second hip fracture (SHF) in elderly patients

Construction and evaluation of prediction model for postoperative re-fractures in elderly patients with hip fractures

OBJECTIVE

The aim of study was to construct a postoperative re-fracture prediction model for elderly hip fracture patients using an automated machine learning algorithm to provide a basis for early identification of patients with high risk of re-fracture occurrence.

METHODS

Clinical data were collected and subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the independent risk factors affecting postoperative re-fracture of hip fracture in the elderly. The collected data were divided into training and validation sets in a ratio of 7:3, AutoGluon was applied to construct LightGBMXT, LightGBM, RandomForestGini, RandomForestEntr, CatBoost, NeuralNetFastAI, XGBoost, NeuralNetTorch, LightGBMLarge and WeightedEnsemble_L2 prediction models, and the constructed models were evaluated using evaluation indicators. The models were externally validated and the model with the best prediction performance was selected.

RESULTS

The incidence of postoperative re-fracture was about 11.7%, and age, comorbid diabetes mellitus, comorbid osteoporosis, rehabilitation exercise status, and preoperative total protein level were considered as independent risk factors. The top three models in terms of AUC values in the training set were WeightedEnsemble_L2 (0.9671), XGBoost (0.9636), and LightGBM (0.9626), the WeightedEnsemble_L2 (0.9759) was best in the external validation. Based on the AUC and other evaluation indicators, WeightedEnsemble_L2 was considered the model with the best prediction performance.

CONCLUSION

The constructed model is highly generalizable and applicable, and can be used as an effective tool for healthcare professionals to assess and manage patients' risk of re-fracture.

Outcomes and Risks Associated With Subsequent Contralateral Hip Fractures

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures constitute a major public health problem for older individuals. They are associated with functional deterioration, limited mobility, and increased mortality, while contributing to economic and social hardships that are compounded by a second hip fracture. With the aging US population and increasing rates of hip fractures, it is essential to understand factors surrounding subsequent contralateral hip fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive study was a retrospective review of patients 60 years and older who were identified in the institutional geriatric hip fracture database as having had an initial and subsequent contralateral hip fracture, with the second treated at our tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

The incidence of subsequent hip fracture was 13.2%. The mean time to second hip fracture was 3.5 years after the initial injury. The first fracture tended to be a femoral neck fracture, whereas the second injury was more likely to have an intertrochanteric pattern. There was a higher complication rate after a subsequent hip fracture. Patients taking osteoporosis and adjuvant medication prior to admission for the second fracture tended to have a lower 90-day mortality rate. Patients with a history of any fracture prior to the first hip fracture, with cancer, and with osteopenia had shorter intervals to the subsequent event.

CONCLUSION

Subsequent hip fractures carry high morbidity and mortality rates. Steps should be taken after the initial injury to optimize outcomes in the case of a subsequent event. Patients discharged after initial hip fracture should be maintained with osteoporosis medication. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(5):264-269.].

Risk factors for subsequent fractures in hip fracture patients: a nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for subsequent fractures following an initial hip fracture are not entirely understood. This study examined the clinical characteristics of hip fracture patients to identify potential risk factors associated with a higher risk of experiencing subsequent fractures.

METHODS

We conducted a nested case-control study using data from the Chinese PLA General Hospital Hip Fracture Cohort between January 2008 and March 2022. The cases were individuals who experienced subsequent fractures following an initial hip fracture. Each case was matched with up to 2 controls who did not develop subsequent fractures. Important clinical factors were compared across groups, including traditional fracture risk factors and potential risk factors (e.g., comorbidities, falls risk, physical impairment, calcium or vitamin D use, and anti-osteoporosis medications). Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of these clinical features as potential risk factors for subsequent fractures.

RESULTS

A total of 96 individuals who suffered from subsequent fractures were matched with 176 controls. The median time between the initial hip fracture and the subsequent fracture was 2.1 years. The overall proportion of patients receiving anti-osteoporosis treatment after initial hip fracture was 25.7%. In the multivariable regression analysis, living in a care facility (OR = 3.78, 95%CI: 1.53-9.34), longer hospital stays (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.00-1.11), and falls after discharge (OR = 7.58, 95%CI: 3.37-17.04) were associated with higher odds of subsequent fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that living in a care facility, longer hospital stays, and falls after discharge may be independent risk factors for repeat fractures following an initial hip fracture. These findings could be used to identify and manage patients at high risk of subsequent fractures.

The Characteristics and Outcomes of Contralateral Non-Concurrent Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Study in Geriatric Patients

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between non-simultaneous contralateral hip fractures, urban and rural differences, fracture localization, time between fractures, physiotherapy applications, comorbidity, and the second fracture outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients aged 65 and older with proximal femur fractures (PFFs) who underwent surgery at Düzce University Medical Faculty between January 2010 and December 2022. High-energy fractures, pathological fractures, and patients with a history of old fractures were excluded. Results: The study included 66 females (61.7%) and 41 males (38.3%), with a mean age of 83.76 years. The mean interval between two fractures was 28.3 months. There was no statistical difference between the localization of the first and second fractures (p = 0.107). However, there was a significant difference in the first PFF localizations of patients living in rural areas (p = 0.023). Patients with heart failure, respiratory failure, osteoporosis, and cognitive impairment had shorter intervals between fractures (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows that age, female gender, place of residence, comorbid diseases, and whether physical therapy is received after the first fracture are significant risk factors for a second hip fracture in patients over 65 years of age.

Predictive model for a second hip fracture occurrence using natural language processing and machine learning on electronic health records

Hip fractures (HFx) are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality rates, leading to a significant reduction in life quality and in limitation of patient´s mobility. The present study aimed to obtain real-world evidence on the clinical characteristics of patients with an initial and a second hip fracture (HFx) and develop a predictive model for second HFx using artificial intelligence. Electronic health records from one hospital centre in Spain from January 2011 to December 2019 were analysed using EHRead® technology, based on natural language processing and machine learning. A total of 1,960 patients with HFx were finally included during the study period after meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria. From this total, 1835 (93.6%) patients were included in the HFx subgroup, while 124 (6.4%) were admitted to the second HFx (2HFx) subgroup. The mean age of the participants was 84 years and 75.5% were female. Most of comorbidities were more frequently identified in the HFx group, including hypertension (72.0% vs. 67.2%), cognitive impairment (33.0% vs. 31.2%), diabetes mellitus (28.7% vs. 24.8%), heart failure (27.6% vs. 22.4%) and chronic kidney disease (26.9% vs. 16.0%). Based on clinical criteria, 26 features were selected as potential prediction factors. From there, 16 demographics and clinical characteristics such as comorbidities, medications, measures of disabilities for ambulation and type of refracture were selected for development of a competitive risk model. Specifically, those predictors with different associated risk ratios, sorted from higher to lower risk relevance were visual deficit, malnutrition, walking assistance, hypothyroidism, female sex, osteoporosis treatment, pertrochanteric fracture, dementia, age at index, osteoporosis, renal failure, stroke, COPD, heart disease, anaemia, and asthma. This model showed good performance (dependent AUC: 0.69; apparent performance: 0.75) and could help the identification of patients with higher risk of developing a second HFx, allowing preventive measures. This study expands the current available information of HFx patients in Spain and identifies factors that exhibit potential in predicting a second HFx among older patients.

Risk factors for a second nonsimultaneous hip fracture in a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The risk factors for a second nonsimultaneous hip fracture are unclear, and in general, it is empirically assumed that they are similar to those associated with the first hip fracture. We aimed to determine the incidence of a second hip fracture and define the characteristics of the patients sustaining the event in a prospective cohort study in a Spanish population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicentric, prospective cohort study in a representative sample of 45 hospitals from 15 autonomic regions in Spain. In total, the study included 994 patients. One hundred and one patients presented a nonsimultaneous contralateral hip fracture, constituting the intervention group. The remaining 893 patients presenting with a hip fracture formed the control group. The main outcome measures of this study were sociodemographic characteristics of the patient, comorbid conditions, and baseline and postfracture clinical outcomes (inpatient complications and acute mortality).

RESULTS

The key fracture risk factors were a history of fragility fractures, the need for assistance when walking outdoors and a history of falls. There were no associations between the groups in any of the common fragility risk factors, including rheumatoid arthritis, secondary osteoporosis, or steroid consumption. The results showed that patients suffering a nonsimultaneous hip fracture had an increased risk of mortality after discharge compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

A nonsimultaneous second hip fracture leads to a near-significant increase in four-month mortality. In our study, this fracture was associated with a history of falls, prior fragility fractures, and the need for a walking aid.

Risk factors for contralateral hip refractures in patients aged over 80 years with intertrochanteric femoral fractures

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify which of the risk factors would contribute to the contralateral fracture in very elderly patients after intramedullary nail fixation.

Methods

Clinical data of 227 intertrochanteric fracture patients aged 80 years or older were retrospectively reviewed. Intramedullary nails (IMNs) were used on all of the patients. Potential risk factors for contralateral hip refractures were determined using univariate and logistic regression analyses.

Results

Contralateral hip refractures occurred in 11 patients (4.84%). Univariate analysis revealed that age, gender, body mass index, fracture classification, hematocrit, D-dimer, and CRP level were not associated with contralateral fractures (P > 0.05). However, neurological diseases, cardiovascular disease, and visual impairments were significantly associated with contralateral fractures (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis further revealed that neurological diseases (OR 4.25, P = 0.044) and visual impairments (OR 5.42, P = 0.015) were independent risk factors associated with contralateral refractures.

Conclusion

To prevent contralateral refractures, more attention should be paid to elderly intertrochanteric fracture patients with underlying neurological disease and visual impairments.

Screening tool for identification of hip fractures in the prehospital setting

Objectives

This study aims to develop a screening tool that will help first responders identify patients with proximal femur fractures, commonly referred to as hip fractures, on site and direct these patients to hospitals with orthopaedic surgery services.

Study Design

Prospective survey.

Methods

Literature and expert opinion defined parameters for the Collingwood Hip Fracture Rule (CHFR) which predict a patient's likelihood of hip fracture. The study population included adults presenting to Collingwood General and Marine Hospital with lower extremity injuries between December 1, 2019 and March 10, 2020. Excluded patients had previous hip replacement, previous hip fracture on the side of the injury, or a high energy mechanism of injury. Patients were assessed with the CHFR before receiving x-ray imaging. The parameters were scored based on their predictive powers and analyzed by a receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

The study included 101 patients (mean age 66.3 years), and 25.7% had a hip fracture confirmed on imaging. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value helped score each parameter. Factors receiving 1 point are: age 65 to 79 years, female, mechanical fall, unable to weight-bear, knee pain. Factors receiving 2 points are: bruising at greater trochanter, age >80 years. Factors receiving 3 points are: pain with hip rotation, leg shortened and externally rotated. Score is the summation of all the factors' points. The receiver operating characteristic curve (0.953; P value < .0001) demonstrated scores of 7 had sensitivity:specificity of 84.6%:94.7%.

Conclusion

The CHFR screening tool score of 7 can be used by first responders in the prehospital setting to identify patients who sustain a hip fracture and make appropriate triage decisions. This will improve patient outcomes and decrease institutional costs.

A systematic review of the malnutrition prevalence in hospitalized hip fracture patients and its associated outcomes

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is associated with poorer outcomes in hospitalized patients. However, in hip fracture patients, the associations between malnutrition and poorer outcomes are unclear because of the use of nonestablished nutrition assessment tools in previous studies that may have some degree of misclassification bias. Therefore, this review aims to determine (1) the prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed in hospitalized hip fracture patients using established nutrition assessment tools and (2) the outcomes associated with malnutrition given some of the nonestablished nutrition assessment tools used in previous studies.

METHODS

Four electronic databases were used. Studies that used established nutrition assessment tools to diagnose malnutrition in hip fracture patients within 48 h of hospital admission were included.

RESULTS

Nine studies were included (n = 1665). Patients' mean age ranged from 79.9 to 86.1 years. Eight studies reported the frequencies of each sex, and for females, it ranged from 70% to 81.8%. The prevalence of malnutrition was 4.0% to 39.4%. Malnutrition was independently associated with (1) increased mortality and (2) functional dependence. There was also a trend towards more supported living arrangements and impaired mobility in the longer term. Malnutrition was not associated with (1) hospital length of stay, (2) hospital readmissions, and (3) incidence of complications.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of malnutrition in hip fracture patients is highly variable and is associated with poorer outcomes. Therefore, identifying malnourished hip fracture patients using established nutrition assessment tools is important, and adequate resources can be allocated to prevent malnutrition through early screening and intervention.

Risk factors for second hip fracture in elderly patients: an age, sex, and fracture type matched case-control study

PURPOSE

Prevention of second hip fracture is mandatory for orthopedic surgeons. We aimed to clarify the incidence and duration of second hip fracture, to compare survival rate and walking ability of patients with a second hip fracture to that of patients with a unilateral fracture, and to identify risk factors for second hip fracture using matched case-control methods.

METHODS

This retrospective study conducted in a single tertiary emergency center comprised 119 patients with second hip fractures who underwent bilateral operations at our institution from 2007 to 2017 (second hip fracture group [Group A]). The control group (Group B) comprised 357 patients matched to Group A for age, sex, and fracture type.

RESULTS

The incidence of second hip fracture was 7.6%, and the average interval from initial fracture to second hip fracture was 22.8 months. Significantly more patients in Group A had decreased postoperative walking ability. Five-year survival rates from initial fracture were 65.0% in Group A and 50.6% in Group B (P = 0.346). Dementia and heart disease were identified as independent risk factors (dementia: HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.27-3.41, P = 0.004; heart disease: HR 1.27, 95% CI1.11-3.22, P = 0.019). Valvular disease was also revealed to be a risk factor for heart disease (P = 0.0272).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of second hip fracture was not low. Although survival rates did not differ between the patients with or without second hip fracture, walking ability of patients with second hip fracture worsened. Dementia and cardiac disease could be risk factors for second hip fracture in elderly patients, and valvular disease might be associated with second hip fracture in patients with heart disease.

Contralateral non-simultaneous proximal femoral fractures in patients over 65 years old

Purpose

Epidemiological and clinical parameters according to the Parker-Palmer Index (PPI) have not been specifically studied as predictors of re-fracture time in patients over 65 years old with contralateral hip fracture. The main purpose of this study was to assess whether these parameters could represent a prognostic factor in this population.

Methods

This retrospective study included all consecutive patients older than 65 years that suffered from a proximal femoral fracture, 31 according to Association for Osteosynthesis/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification, treated at our unit between Feb 1st 2019 and Feb 1st 2020.

Results

This study enrolled 387 patients. Thirty-seven of them had already incurred a contralateral hip fracture: seven males and 30 females. The median time between the first and second hip fractures was 3.5 years. This study revealed that increasing age (p = 0.003), male sex (p = 0.029) and a PPI value ≥ 5 between the first and second hip fracture (p = 0.015) are risk factors associated with a contralateral hip fracture in the first three years after the first episode. There were no statistically significant differences regarding anti-osteoporotic therapy and the anatomic site of the first hip fracture episode.

Conclusion

The results of the present study suggest that several risk factors have a crucial role in hip re-fracture time in patients over 65 years old.

Determining the cost-effectiveness requirements of an exoskeleton preventing second hip fractures using value of information

Background

Falls may lead to hip fractures, which have a detrimental effect on the prognosis of patients as well as a considerable impact on healthcare expenditures. Since a secondary hip fracture (SHF) may lead to even higher costs than primary fractures, the development of innovative services is crucial to limit falls and curb costs in high-risk patients. An early economic evaluation assessed which patients with a second hip fracture could benefit most from an exoskeleton preventing falls and whether its development is feasible.

Methods

The life-course of hip fractured patients presenting with dementia or cardiovascular diseases was simulated using a Markov model relying on the United Kingdom administrative data and complemented by published literature. A group of experts provided the exoskeleton parameters. Secondary analyses included a threshold analysis to identify the exoskeleton requirements (e.g. minimum impact of the exoskeleton on patients’ quality of life) leading to a reimbursable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Similarly, the uncertainty around these requirements was modelled by varying their standard errors and represented alongside population Expected Value of Perfect Information (EVPI).

Results

Our base-case found the exoskeleton cost-effective when providing a statistically significant reduction in SHF risk. The secondary analyses identified 286 cost-effective combinations of the exoskeleton requirements. The uncertainty around these requirements was explored producing further 22,880 scenarios, which showed that this significant reduction in SHF risk was not necessary to support the exoskeleton adoption in clinical practice. Conversely, a significant improvement in women quality of life was crucial to obtain an acceptable population EVPI regardless of the cost of the exoskeleton.

Conclusions

Our study identified the exoskeleton requisites to be cost-effective and the value of future research. Decision-makers could use our analyses to assess not only whether the exoskeleton could be cost-effective but also how much further research and development of the exoskeleton is worth to be pursued.

Incidence, timing and impact of comorbidity on second hip fracture: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

To quantify the incidence and timing of second hip fracture, and to evaluate the relative impact of comorbidities on risk of second hip fracture.

METHODS

Hospitalization records for individuals aged ≥65, admitted to a New South Wales hospital for fall-related hip fracture between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2009 were linked. Comorbidities were identified from the records using a 1-year look-back period. To calculate second hip fracture rates, individuals were followed until death, fracture or end of study period (31 December 2012). Time-dependent competing-risk hazards regression was used to assess the relative contribution of each comorbidity to fracture risk, adjusting for age and sex.

RESULTS

Of the 24 500 individuals who sustained at least one hip fracture, 2.9% experienced a second within a year, 6.1% within 3 years and 9.4% within 8 years. Malnutrition/cachexia (hazard ratio (HR): 2.47; 99.9% confidence interval (CI): 1.87-3.26), dementia (HR: 2.15; 99.9% CI: 1.80-2.57), congestive heart failure (HR: 1.62; 99.9% CI: 1.30-2.04), Parkinson's disease (HR: 1.51; 99.9% CI: 1.08-2.10), cerebrovascular disease (HR: 1.41; 99.9% CI: 1.06-1.89) and osteoporosis (HR: 1.36; 99.9% CI: 1.11-1.67) were associated with increased risk of second hip fracture within 3 years. Mortality was high; with 26% of individuals dying within a year, 44.9% within 3 years and 70.2% within 8 years.

CONCLUSIONS

One in 11 older individuals with an initial hip fracture sustained a second hip fracture. While the priority is to prevent the first hip fracture, those that have sustained a hip fracture should be seen as a high risk population and be targeted for future falls and fracture prevention strategies.

The burden of second hip fractures: provincial surgical hospitalizations over 15 years

BACKGROUND

Second hip fractures account for up to 15% of all hip fractures. We sought to determine if the proportion of hip fracture surgeries for second hip fracture changed over time in terms of patient and fracture characteristics.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of patients older than 60 years hospitalized for hip fracture surgery between 1990 and 2005 in British Columbia. We studied the proportion of surgeries for second hip fracture among all hip fracture surgeries. Linear regression tested for trends across fiscal years for women and men.

RESULTS

We obtained 46 341 patient records. Second hip fracture accounted for 8.3% of hip fracture surgeries. For women the proportion of second hip fracture surgeries increased linearly from 4% to 13% with each age decade (p = 0.001) and across fiscal years (p = 0.002). In men the proportion of second hip fracture surgeries was 5% for each age decade between the ages of 60 and 90 years across fiscal years, increasing to 8% for men older than 90 years across fiscal years (p = 0.20). These sex-specific trends were similar for both pertrochanteric and transcervical fracture types.

CONCLUSION

Second hip fracture surgeries account for an increasing proportion of hip fracture surgeries and may require more health care resources to minimize poorer reported outcomes. Future research should determine whether more health care resources are required to manage these patients and optimize their outcomes.

Comparison of predictors of hip fracture and mortality after hip fracture in community-dwellers with and without Alzheimer's disease - exposure-matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Dementia, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common form, is a major hip fracture risk factor, but currently it is not known whether the same factors predict hip fracture among persons with and without dementia/AD. We compared the predictors of hip fracture and mortality after hip fracture in persons with and without AD.

METHODS

An exposure-matched cohort of all community-dwellers of Finland who received a new clinically verified AD diagnosis in 2005-2011 and had no history of previous hip fracture (N = 67,072) and an age, sex, and region-matched cohort of persons without AD (N = 67,072). Associations between sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities and medications and risk of hip fracture and mortality after hip fracture were assessed with Cox regression.

RESULTS

As expected, the incidence of hip fractures in 2005-2012 (2.19/100 person-years vs 0.90/100 person-years in the non-AD cohort), as well as mortality after hip fracture (29/100 person-years vs 23/100 person-years in the non-AD cohort) were higher in the AD cohort. This difference was evident regardless of the risk factors. Mental and behavioural disorders (adjusted hazard ratio; HR 95% confidence interval CI: 1.16, 1.09-1.24 and 1.71, 1.52-1.92 in the AD and non-AD-cohorts), antipsychotics (1.12, 1.04-1.20 and 1.56, 1.38-1.76 for AD and non-AD-cohorts) and antidepressants (1.06, 1.00-1.12 and 1.34 1.22-1.47 for AD and non-AD-cohorts) were related to higher, and estrogen/combination hormone therapy (0.87, 0.77-0.9 and 0.79, 0.64-0.98 for AD and non-AD-cohorts) to lower hip fracture risk in both cohorts. Stroke (1.42, 1.26-1.62), diabetes (1.13, 0.99-1.28), active cancer treatment (1.67, 1.22-2.30), proton pump inhibitors (1.14, 1.05-1.25), antiepileptics (1.27, 1.11-1.46) and opioids (1.10, 1.01-1.19) were associated with higher hip fracture risk in the non-AD cohort. Similarly, the associations between mortality risk factors (age, sex, several comorbidities and medications) were stronger in the non-AD cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

AD itself appears to be such a significant risk factor for hip fracture, and mortality after hip fracture, that it overrules or diminishes the effect of other risk factors. Thus, it is important to develop and implement preventive interventions that are suitable and effective in this population.

Assessment of functional capability and on-going falls-risk in older institutionalized people after total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures

PURPOSE

To estimate functional capability and attendant falls-risk in older institutionalized people after total hip arthroplasty (THA) for femoral neck fractures.

METHODS

The study population comprised 149 consecutive patients (F104, M45; mean age 83.4 years) who were permanent residents of nursing care facilities four weeks after THA for femoral neck fractures. Individual mental and functional capability status was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Tinetti's Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) which includes sub-scales for balance (B) and gait (G), in conjunction with identifying any concomitant disorders, reviewing individual pharmacotherapy and leisure time activities.

RESULTS

The subjects' mean MMSE was 23.1 points, whereas in Tinetti's POMA they scored 19 points on average, which translated into a five-fold greater falls-risk, whereas average TUG scores of 23.9s effectively corroborated this assertion. Multiple regression analysis effectively highlighted that TUG scores were strongly correlated with the actual number of concomitant disorders, number of regularly taken medications, and usual manner of spending leisure time.

CONCLUSIONS

Institutionalized older people after THA for femoral neck fracture continue to be exposed to high risk of recurrent, possibly injurious falls, which is closely correlated with significantly diminished individual functional capabilities.

Risk factors and incidence of repeat osteoporotic fractures among the elderly in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study

The incidence of osteoporotic fracture (OF), a condition that leads to higher morbidity and mortality in the elderly, is increasing yearly worldwide. However, most studies of OF have focused on the epidemiology of initial fractures, mainly in female and white populations. This study aimed to explore the incidence and the risk factors for repeat osteoporotic fracture (ROF) in Taiwan.We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD) from 1995 through 2011. Individuals aged 65 years or older who experienced an initial OF were included. The patients were followed until death, the end of registration in the NHIRD, ROF occurrence, or the end of the study period (December 31, 2011), whichever occurred first. The incidence of ROF over ≥ 5 years after the initial fracture was analyzed, and the risk factors for ROF were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. The incidence rates of ROF were 950.5, 321.4, 158.7, 92.8, and 70.2 per 1000 person-years among subjects in their first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years after the initial OF, respectively. Nearly 45% of the subjects sustained a ROF in the first year after OF. ROF risk increased with age and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score. Greater risk for ROF was observed among female subjects and those who had suffered from hip and vertebral fracture at the first OF, had undergone OF-related surgery, and had received bone-related medications. The incidence of ROF in the Taiwanese elderly is higher during the first year after the initial OF, and ROF risk increases with age, female sex, high CCI score, and in those who have undergone OF-related surgery, sustained hip or vertebral fracture, and used bone-related medications.