Osteoporosis treatment in patients over 75 years old with fractures living in nursing home.

OBJECTIVE: Recommendations for the management of major fractures in institutionalized patients over 75 years old were updated by the GRIO (French group for research and information on osteoporosis) in 2012 and in 2018. This study is an evaluation of practices in osteoporosis management in institutionalized old patients.

METHODS: Evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic management in medical observations of all residents over 75 years old with a history of major fracture in 4 nursing homes.

RESULTS: 105 residents were included with the prevalence of osteoporosis fracture of 32.1%. The most common fractures were hip fractures (60.9%) and vertebral fracture (45.8%). Treatments were: calcium supplementation (14.3% of residents), vitamin D (52.4%), rehabilitation (70.5%) and specific treatment (biphosphonates 11.4%). Complete management (calcium supplementation, vitamin D, physical activity and osteoporosis treatment) was found in 5 residents (4.7%). Few factors were related to complete treatment initiation. Residents initially managed in medicine departments were more treated than those in surgical wards (25.0 vs 6.5%; p = 0.0144) rather than those managed by specialists (rheumatologist or geriatrician: 8 vs 4; p < 0.001). Creatinine clearance was significantly higher in residents with calcium supplementation (52.7 ± 27.9 vs 39.1 ± 9.6; p = 0.0505). Regimen number tend to be higher in residents receiving vitamin D (8.9 ± 2.7 vs 6.7 ± 3.4; p = 0.0753).

CONCLUSION: This evaluation of professional practices showed that only a minority of residents received complete anti-osteoporotic treatment despite their risk factor for fracture recurrence. Such an evaluation should be systematic at the entry in nursing home, given the number of falling residents.