Osteoporosis and Silent Vertebral Fractures in Nursing Home Resident Elderly Men in Turkey

The epidemiology of geriatric fractures: A nationwide analysis of 1 million fractures

OBJECTIVE

Fractures among the geriatric population impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems. This study aims to investigate the incidence and distribution of fractures among geriatric individuals over seven years, analyzing changes by age and sex. The findings will inform national healthcare strategies for addressing the growing impact of geriatric fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic health records from a nationwide personal health records system were analyzed, focusing on ICD-10 codes for fractures. Recurrent codes for the same patients within three months were excluded. Patients were categorized into three age groups (65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years), and fractures were grouped anatomically. Incidence rates for specific fracture locations were calculated based on the actual population at risk annually. Incidence rates were further stratified by sex and age groups using Turkey's age- and sex-specific populations.

RESULTS

A total of 1,004,663 geriatric fractures (66.9 % female, 33.1 % male) were identified over seven years. The overall fracture incidence among the geriatric population was 1.9 % (1910/100,000). Hip fractures were the most common (25.2 %), followed by wrist (15 %) and lumbar-pelvic fractures (11.9 %). Femur fractures were predominant in the 75-84 and 85+ age groups, while wrist fractures were more common in the 65-74 age group. Fracture incidences generally increased with age, except for ankle, foot, and toe fractures, which decreased with age for both sexes (p < 0.05). The male/female ratio was lowest for wrist, elbow, and humeral shaft fractures (1:3.2, 1:2.7, and 1:2.7, respectively). The lowest overall fracture incidence was observed in 2020 (1568/100,000), while the highest was in 2017 (2523/100,000).

CONCLUSION

With Turkey's aging population, the socioeconomic impact of geriatric fractures is anticipated to rise. Fracture patterns and incidence vary by age and sex among geriatric individuals. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare planning and the development of community-based preventive measures tailored to specific fracture locations and demographics.

Vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents: a systematic review

CONTEXT

Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE

This review critically summarizes the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents worldwide. In addition, it outlines the effect of vitamin D intervention, alone or in combination with other nutrients or therapies, on improving vitamin D status and associated health outcomes in nursing home residents.

DATA SOURCES, EXTRACTION, AND ANALYSIS

Searches were conducted of electronic databases for articles published from 2010 to May 2021. After screening of the 366 papers initially identified, 58 articles were included.

CONCLUSIONS

A paucity of observational studies in nursing homes suggests a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ranging from 8% [25(OH)D <25 nmol/L], up to 94% [25(OH)D <50 nmol/L] in some cohorts where supplement use was low. Reported factors associated with deficiency and suboptimal vitamin D status include lack of sunlight exposure, poor dietary intake of vitamin D, limited vitamin D food fortification, frailty, poor renal function, and low use of vitamin D supplements. Residents who are severely deficient, deficient, or insufficient in vitamin D require remedial vitamin D supplementation prior to maintenance supplementation at doses >800 IU/day. High-dose vitamin D supplementation may reduce respiratory illness; however, supportive data are limited. Oral nutritional supplements, in combination with exercise, may benefit physical function and performance, whereas supplementation with vitamin D- and calcium-fortified foods has been associated with improved quality of life and reduced bone resorption. Globally, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in nursing home residents. There is an urgent need for standardized dietary and supplementation guidelines to prevent deficiency in this vulnerable group.

Vitamin D and Bone Health of Older Adults within Care Homes: An Observational Study

Limited studies have reported vitamin D status and health outcomes in care home residents, a group at risk of vitamin D deficiency. This study investigated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations in older adults within care homes in Northern Ireland (NI) and its association with musculoskeletal health (ultrasound T-score, muscle strength, Timed Up & Go test (TUG)), bone turnover markers (BTMs), and immune function markers. A total of 87 participants were recruited with mean ± SD age 83.2 ± 7.9 years. Mean ± SD serum 25-OHD concentration (n 69) was 49.52 ± 35.58 nmol/L. Vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD <25 nmol/L) was observed in 34.8% (n 24) of participants with 17.4% (n 12) classified as insufficient (25-OHD 25−50 nmol/L) and 47.8% (n 33) as sufficient (25-OHD >50 nmol/L). 25-OHD concentration was not an independent predictor of T-score, muscle strength, TUG, or inflammatory cytokines. After adjusting for covariates, a significant negative association was observed between 25-OHD concentration and the BTMs; osteocalcin (β = −0.395; p = 0.001), procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP) (β = −0.320; p = 0.012), and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) (β = −0.377; p = 0.003). Higher 25-OHD concentration was positively associated with use of vitamin D ± calcium supplementation (β = 0.610; p < 0.001). Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were highly prevalent in this sample of care home residents in NI. Higher 25-OHD concentration was associated with greater supplement use and with reduced bone turnover, which in this population is linked with reduced bone loss. These findings emphasize the need for a mandatory vitamin D ± calcium supplementation policy specific for care home residents.

Interventions Preventing Osteoporosis in Primary Care: A Systematic Review

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to find interventions in primary health care that would increase osteoporosis prevention behaviors. Methods: Systematic searches of CINAHL, Eric, Medline complete, PsycInfo, Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Library (N=1270). A total of 17 published articles met our inclusion criteria. English-language articles published between January 2000-May 2019, in primary care settings, participants with healthy or risk of osteoporosis, investigated osteoporosis preventing behaviors. The data extracted included population characteristics, diagnosis, mean age and setting, intervention and control groups, and outcomes of significance to the review question and specific objectives. In this review, a meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of the data. Results: The majority of studies have been found to use multiple strategies to prevent osteoporosis. Eight studies focused only on the female gender and seven studies focused only on older adults. Compared to the control groups, it was found that the participants’ osteoporosis knowledge increased significantly (p

The current situation in the approach to osteoporosis in older adults in Turkey: areas in need of improvement with a model for other populations

PURPOSE

The total number of older adults in Turkey is striking, amounting to around 8 million, and this translates into considerably higher numbers of cases of osteoporosis (OP) and fractures in older adults. In this article, we outlined the current situation of OP in older adults in Turkey and investigated the differences between Turkey and a representative developed European country (Belgium), in terms of the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of OP. Our intention in this regard was to identify areas in need of improvement and subsequently to make a clear call for action to address these issues.

METHODS

Herein, considering the steps related to the OP approach, we made a complete review of the studies conducted in Turkey and compared with the literature recommendations.

RESULTS

There is a need for a national osteoporotic fracture registry; measures should be taken to improve the screening and treatment of OP in older males, such as educational activities; technicians involved in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning should undergo routine periodic training; all DXA centers should identify center-specific least significant change values; all older adults should be considered for routine lateral dorsolumbar X-ray imaging for the screening of vertebral fractures while ordering DXA scans; the inclusion of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) software in DXA assessments should be considered; screening using a fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) algorithm that is specific to Turkey should be integrated; the fortification of foods with vitamin D is required; the high fracture risk by country-specific FRAX algorithm and the presence of falls/high fall risk should be integrated in reimbursement terms; and finally, more "fracture liaison services" should be established.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that the practical consideration of our suggestions will provide considerable support to the efforts for combating with the adverse consequences of OP in society. This approach can be subsequently modeled for other populations to improve the management of OP globally.

Vertebral compression fractures: Still an unpredictable aspect of osteoporosis

Vertebral compression fracture is a hallmark of osteoporosis (OP) and by far the most prevalent fragility fracture. It is well proven that patients who develop a vertebral compression fracture are at substantial risk for additional fractures. Diagnosis is based on adequate clinical evaluation, imaging, and laboratory tests. The imaging of OP and fragility fractures includes conventional radiology to evaluate spinal fractures, bone mineral density (BMD) testing by dual energy x-ray densitometry, quantitative computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scintigraphy (if necessary), and ultrasound. Screening and treatment of individuals with high risk of osteoporotic fracture are cost-effective, but approximately two-thirds of the vertebral compression fractures (VCF) that occur each year are not accurately diagnosed and, therefore, not treated. Evaluation of VCFs, even though they may be asymptomatic, seems essential to health-related and/or clinical research on OP.

Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence in Elderly Chinese Men and Women: A Comparison of Endplate/Cortex Fracture-Based and Morphometrical Deformity-Based Methods

This study aims to evaluate endplate/cortex fracture (ECF)-based method for detecting osteoporotic vertebral fracture (VF) in elderly Chinese population (age ≥ 65 years). The radiographs of 1954 elderly Chinese men (mean: 72.3 years) and 1953 elderly Chinese women (mean: 72.5 years) were evaluated according to Genant's morphometrical vertebral deformity (VD) severity criteria, as well as identified VF according to ECF without necessary requirement of VD. According to ECF, grade-1, -2, and -3 VF prevalence was 1.89%, 1.74%, and 2.25% in men, and 3.33%, 3.07%, and 5.89% in women, respectively. In men and women, 15.7% (35 of 223) and 34.5% (48 of 139) of vertebrae with VD grade-1 deformity were ECF(+, with fracture), respectively. In men and women, 89.7% (35 of 39) and 66.7% (48 of 72) of vertebrae with ECF grade-1 fracture had VD grade-1 deformity. For grade-1 change, ECF(+) subjects tended to have a lower BMD than the VD(+) subjects. In subjects with VD grade-2 deformity, those who were also EC (+) tended to have a lower BMD than those were ECF(-). In all grades, VD(-) and ECF(-) subjects tended to have highest BMD, whereas VD(+) and ECF(+) subjects tended to have lowest BMD. ECF may be more specific for assessing mild VF than the criteria based on vertebral deformity.

Analysis of kyphosis, vertebral fracture and bone mineral density measurement in women living in nursing homes

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship between vertebral fracture, degree of kyphosis, and BMD in women living in nursing homes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hitit University Hospital, Corum, Turkey, betweenJanuary 2014 and January 2015. Of the 126 female patients who participated in the study, 48 lived in nursing homes (nursing-home-group [NHG]), 78 lived in non-nursing home settings (control-group [CG]). Vertebral fractures were evaluated via the semi-quantitative Genant method. Cases in which a Cobb angle measured 40 degrees or more resulted in a diagnosis of kyphosis.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants in the NHG was 77.2±7.6 years and 76.8±6.2 years in the CG (p greater than 0.05). The kyphosis rate in the NHG was found to be higher at 52.1% compared to 27.7% for the CG (p less than 0.001). In the NHG, 68.7% had osteoporosis, 31.3% had osteopenia; in the CG, 55.2% had osteoporosis, 32% had osteopenia, 12.8% had normal values (p less than 0.05).The vertebral fracture rate was 37.5% in the NHG and 24.3% in the CG (p greater than 0.05). The Cobb angle had correlation with the number of fractures in both groups (p less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The osteoporosis and kyphosis rates of women living in NHG were higher than those of women living in CG. As kyphosis and the number of fractures are correlated, it is important to analyze kyphosis in women residing in NHG.