Authors: P N Sambrook I D Cameron J S Chen R G Cumming S R Lord L M March J Schwarz M J Seibel J M Simpson
Publish Date: 2007/01/10
Volume: 18, Issue: 5, Pages: 603-610
Abstract
When subjects are selected on the basis of fall risk alone therapies for osteoporosis have not been effective In a prospective study of elderly subjects at high risk of falls we investigated the influence of bone strength and fall risk on fractureA total of 6646 fall events and 375 low trauma fracture events occurred The fall rate was 214 per 100 person years and the fracture rate 121 per 100 person years 82 of the fractures could be attributed to falls Although fracture rates increased with decreasing BUA incidence rate ratio 194 for lowest vs highest BUA tertile p0002 incident falls also affected fracture incidence Subjects who fell frequently 315 falls/per person year were 335 times more likely to suffer a fracture than those who did not fall Some fall risk factors such as balance were associated with the lowest fracture risk lowest in the worst performing group Multivariate analysis revealed higher fall rate history of previous fracture lower BUA lower body weight cognitive impairment and better balance as significant independent risk factors for fracture
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