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International variations seen in quality of life lost after osteoporotic fracture
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A study recently presented at the European Congress on Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis found that the initial quality of life lost after an osteoporotic fracture is substantial — particularly following hip or vertebral fracture — and differences in the quality of life lost exists among countries even after researchers corrected for confounding variables.
Researchers for the International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study (ICUROS) examined the quality of life (QOL) loss for patients who sustained a hip, wrist or vertebral fracture for 4 months following fracture. The study involved 2,737 patients from nine countries, according to a press release from the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
The researchers found that QOL loss during the 4 months studied was highest for hip fractures, followed by vertebral and wrist fractures. The researchers also identified significant variations among countries, whereby QOL loss after hip fracture was greatest in Lithuania, followed by Italy, Russia and Mexico. Lower QOL loss was experienced by patients with hip fractures in Austria and Sweden, according to the release. Among the countries in which vertebral fractures were studied, hospitalized patients experienced more QOL loss than those who were not hospitalized following a vertebral fracture.
Reference:
- Borgström F. Sander K, Thomas T, et al. Quality of life four months following a fracture. Results from the ICUROS. Paper #OC14. Presented at the European Congress on Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. March 23-26, 2011. Valencia, Spain.
Disclosure: The study is sponsored by Amgen, Eli Lilly, Medtronic (Kyphon), Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier and Wyeth.
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