Simple screening could prevent hip fractures from osteoporosis

COMMUNITY screening for osteoporosis could prevent more than a quarter of hip fractures in older women, according to new research done in Birmingham.

A study, published in The Lancet, has shown that a simple questionnaire, combined with bone mineral density measurements for some, would help identify those at risk of hip fracture.

The research, involving more than 12,000 older women and carried out in collaboration between the universities of Birmingham, East Anglia, Bristol, Leicester, York and Sheffield, found that screening through GP practices allowed patients to be targeted for treatment. In women agreeing to participate, this led to a 28 per cent reduction in hip fractures over five years.

Professor Neil Gittoes, of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, said: “Our findings showed that screening led to a statistically significant decrease in hip fractures.

“Our data has the potential to influence national policies around prevention of hip fractures, which is particularly relevant in our ageing society.

“The consequences of hip fractures to older people can be devastating, including impaired mobility and loss of independence.

“While we have demonstrated clinical effectiveness of screening, we are also exploring cost-effec- tiveness of this approach and initial analyses also look promising in this respect.”

A total of 12,483 women aged 70-85 were recruited from 100 GP practices in seven regions – Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield, Southampton, and York. Half of the women were screened to compare screening with routine care.

Among those screened, treatment was recommended for one in seven women deemed at high risk of hip fracture.

This recommendation was acted upon by the women and their GPs so that more than three quarters of the women at high risk were on osteoporosis medications within six months of screening.