Osteoporotic Fractures at Higher Risk for Subsequent Fractures Save

Harvey and coworkers reported the results of subjects followed in the Reykjavik study, demonstrating that a first osteoporotic fracture was followed by an increased risk for a second fracture, both immediately and over time.

Their study, presented last week at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, sought to assess the predictive impact of a major osteoporotic fracture on subsequent osteoporotic fracture over time.

Of the 118,872 men and women enrolled between 1967-1991, there were 5039 patients with a first major osteoporotic fractures and 1919 patients with a second fracture.

The risk of a second major osteoporotic fracture after a first was:

• 41% higher for women than men;
• increased by 4% for each year of age;
• greatest immediately after the first fracture;
• 3 times higher in the first year and 2 times higher after 10 years (than that those who had not experienced a fracture).

These findings underscore the importance of initiating secondary fracture prevention immediately following a first fracture.

It is estimated that approximately 80% of patients who suffer a first fracture are never assessed and treated for fracture prevention.