Evaluation of minimal fracture liaison service resource: costs and survival in secondary fracture prevention—a prospective one-year study in South-Finland

Abstract

Background

Fracture liaison service (FLS) is a secondary prevention model for identification of patients at risk for fragility fractures.

Aims

This study was conducted to evaluate the number and costs of secondary prevention of low-energy fractures in the city of Kouvola in Finland.

Methods

Women aged ≥ 45 years and men ≥ 60 years treated in the emergency department with a low-energy fracture were identified. Laboratory testing, BMI, and DXA scans were performed. Fracture Risk Assessment Tool was used. The direct FLS costs were calculated. Survival was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis and the life-table method.

Results

525 patients with 570 fractures were identified. The mean age of women was 73.8 years and of men 75.9 years. Most patients sustained wrist (31%), hip (21%) or proximal humerus (12%) fractures. 41.5% of the patients had osteoporosis according to DXA scans. 62% of patients used calcium and vitamin D daily and 38% started anti-osteoporotic medication. Protective factors for survival were: age < 80 years, female sex, and S-25OHD concentration of 50–119 nmol/L. Excess mortality was highest among patients with a fracture of the femur. The total annual direct costs of FLS were 1.3% of the costs of all fractures.

Discussion

Many low-energy fracture types were associated with excess mortality. The use of anti-osteoporotic medication was not optimal.

Conclusions

FLS increased the catchment of low-energy fracture patients and was inexpensive. However, identification, evaluation and post-fracture assessment of patients should be expedited. Rehabilitation of hip fracture patients needs to be improved.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-021-01826-x.