[Few are treated in primary care after a fragility fracture].

Abstract

We investigated how many of first-time fragility fracture patients were followed up in primary care and treated with bone-specific drugs. By combining data from multiple health data registers, we included 11,102 patients aged 60 years or older who sustained a fragility fracture in Region Stockholm between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. The follow-up period extended up to 6 months after the fracture. Follow-up was defined as a visit to a primary care physician together with one of the following: 1) osteoporosis diagnosis, 2) bone-specific drug treatment or 3) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Our findings revealed that less than 1 out of 5 patients were followed up in primary care after their first fragility fracture. Follow-up was more common among women, older patients, and for central fractures (hip, pelvis, lumbar spine). Moreover, just over 5% received bone-specific drugs within 6 months.