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WASHINGTON, DC — Fewer than 1 in 5 older women who break their hip have at least one of the recommended osteoporosis screening tests or treatments within six months, according to a new AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) study. Women ages 80 and older who break a bone are the least likely age group to be screened for osteoporosis or to begin using drug therapy, and had a significantly higher risk of a second hip fracture than those who did receive the recommended services.
“Our study suggests that surprisingly few women are evaluated or treated for osteoporosis following hip fractures,” said PPI Vice President of Health Security Lina Walker, Ph.D. “Addressing these missed opportunities would likely make a big difference in the survival rate and the quality of life for older women who break a hip.”
Osteoporosis affects more than 5.8 million women ages 50 and older in the U.S. Roughly half of all postmenopausal women will have an osteoporosis-related bone fracture during their lifetime. Hip fractures, particularly common among older adults, are often associated with serious health implications: 10–20% of older women will die in the year after a hip fracture, and just 40% will return to their prior level of independence.
Study Highlights
Research has clearly shown the benefits of treatment for women with osteoporosis. Experts suggest that older women with hip fractures have bone density testing to evaluate whether osteoporosis may have played a role, and begin using osteoporosis drugs, if appropriate. “Our study confirms prior research suggesting that few women are being evaluated or treated for osteoporosis following a hip fracture and are vulnerable to potentially preventable future bone fractures,” said Walker.
About the Study
Methodology: AARP Public Policy Institute examined the use of recommended bone density testing and drug treatment within six months of a hip fracture and risk of fracture recurrence using data from the OptumLabs™ Data Warehouse, a database of de-identified claims from a large national health insurance carrier. PPI assessed post-fracture care among all study-eligible women ages 50 and older who had a hip fracture between 2008 and 2013. Nearly 55% of the study population was at least 80 years old.
The study can be found here: www.aarp.org/hipfracturestudy
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About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial
Media Contacts:
Greg Phillips, 202-434-2560, media@aarp.org, @AARPMedia