Predictors of Mortality and Refracture in Patients Older Than 65 Years With a Proximal Femur Fracture

J Clin Rheumatol. 2022 Jan 1;28(1):e49-e55. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000001581.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate potential predictors of subsequent fracture and increased mortality in a population 65 years or older who suffered a proximal femur fragility fracture.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study that included patients with a proximal femur fragility fracture, referred from the Orthopedics Inpatient Department to the Rheumatology Department's Fracture Liaison Service, from March 2015 to March 2017.

Results: Five hundred twenty-two patients were included, with a median age (IQR) of 84 years (interquartile range [IQR], 11 years), 79.7% (n = 416) female. Nine percent (n = 47) suffered a new fracture, with a median time to event of 298 days (IQR, 331 days). Cumulative probability without refracture at 12 months was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.2%-95.0%); 22.8% (n = 119) patients died, with median time to death of 126 days (IQR, 336 days). Cumulative survival probability at 12 months was 81.7 (95% CI, 77.9-84.8). Neurologic disease (hazard ratio [HR], 2.30; 95% CI, 0.97-5.50; p = 0.06) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.20-10.9; p = 0.022) were both predictors of refracture. Age older than 80 years (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.99-2.38; p = 0.052), higher degree of dependence (HR, 1.24;95% CI, 1.09-1.42; p = 0.001), male sex (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03-2.33; p = 0.034), femoral neck fracture (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.24-0.88; p = 0.018), Charlson score (HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.17-3.69; p = 0.012), heart failure (HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.06-5.63; p = 0.037), hip bone mass density (HR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.19-13.4; p = 0.025), hip T score (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.93; p = 0.021), and β-crosslaps (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.02-3.84; p = 0.042) all predicted a higher mortality.

Conclusions: Neurologic disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may increase the risk of subsequent fracture after a hip fracture. Male sex, age, autonomy degree, femur bone mass density/T score, fracture type, Charlson score, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and β-crosslaps had significant impact on survival. The authors highlight β-crosslaps as a potential serological marker of increased mortality in clinical practice.

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures* / diagnosis
  • Femoral Fractures* / epidemiology
  • Femur
  • Hip Fractures* / diagnosis
  • Hip Fractures* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Risk Factors