Half the burden of fragility fractures in the community occur in women without osteoporosis. When is fracture prevention cost-effective?

• Published in: Bone (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2006-05, Vol.38 (5), p.694-700
• Main Authors: Sanders, Kerrie M., Nicholson, Geoffrey C., Watts, Jennifer J., Pasco, Julie A., Henry, Margaret J., Kotowicz, Mark A., Seeman, Ego
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-resorptive drugs; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Case-Control Studies; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cost-effectiveness; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Epidemiology; Female; Fractures, Bone - economics; Fractures, Bone - epidemiology; Fractures, Bone - prevention & control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis - drug therapy; Osteoporosis - economics; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Osteoporosis-diagnosis; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 8756-3282; 1873-2763
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2005.06.004

To determine the age- and BMD-specific burden of fractures in the community and the cost-effectiveness of targeted drug therapy, we studied a demographically well-categorized population with a single main health provider. Of 1224 women over 50 years of age sustaining fractures during 2 years, the distribution of all fractures was 11%, 20%, 33%, and 36% in those aged 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80+ years, respectively. Osteoporosis ( T score 60 years) as criteria for intervention reduces the population burden of fractures by 28% and is cost-effective but solutions to the prevention of the remaining 72% of fragility fractures remain unavailable.