One-year outcomes of an osteoporosis liaison services program initiated within a healthcare system

• Published in: Osteoporosis international 2021-11, Vol.32 (11), p.2163-2172
• Main Authors: Chang, C.-B., Yang, R.-S., Chang, L.-Y., Peng, J.-K., Tsai, K.-S., Huang, W.-J., Yang, T.-H., Chan, D.-C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bone mineral density; Calcium; Endocrinology; Fractures; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Orthopedics; Osteoporosis; Patient compliance; Patients; Proteins; Rheumatology; Vertebrae; Vitamin D
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-021-05859-w

Summary Due to the huge gap in the care of patients with osteoporosis and fragility fractures, we aimed to explore the effectiveness of the osteoporosis liaison service (OLS) in osteoporosis care. We found that OLS can improve osteoporosis care, including increasing medication compliance, increasing calcium/vitamin D/protein intake, and reducing fall rate. Introduction A significant gap exists in the care of patients with osteoporosis and fragility fractures. This study aimed to evaluate 1-year outcomes of an osteoporosis liaison service (OLS) program that includes two independent components: medication management services (MMS) to improve medication adherence and fracture liaison services (FLS) for secondary prevention. Methods Patients with new hip fracture or untreated vertebral fractures enrolled in the FLS program ( n = 600), and those with osteoporosis medication management issues but not necessarily fragility fractures enrolled in the MMS program ( n = 499) were included. To evaluate outcomes, care coordinators assessed baseline items adapted from the 13 Best Practices Framework (BPF) standards of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, with telephone follow-up every 4 months for 1 year. Results Mean age of this cohort was 76.2 ± 10.3 years, 78.8% were female. After 1-year participation in the program, all patients had received bone mineral density tests, and medication adherence for the entire cohort at 12 months was 91.9 ± 19.6%, with significant improvement in fall rates (23.4% reduction), exercise rates (16.8% increase), calcium intake (26.5% increase), vitamin D intake (26.4% increase), and adequate protein intake (17.3% increase) (all p < 0.05). After 1-year OLS program, the overall rates of mortality, incident fracture, and falls were 6.6%, 4.0%, and 24.3%, respectively. Conclusions The OLS program is associated with improved osteoporosis care, including increased medication adherence, calcium/vitamin D and protein intake, and reduced fall rate.