The impact of a fracture liaison service with in-hospital anti-osteoporosis treatment on subsequent hip fracture and mortality rates—a single-center retrospective study

The implementation of an in-hospital fracture liaison service facilitated prompt initiation of anti-osteoporosis treatment following a hip fracture (HF), increasing follow-up and treatment rates. This led to a 48% reduction in the risk of subsequent HF and a 29% decrease in mortality rates. To demonstrate the impact of an institutional fracture liaison service (FLS) which allowed in-hospital anti-osteoporosis treatment following hip fracture (HF) on subsequent HF and mortality rate. We retrospectively evaluated patients aged 65 years and older, admitted with an osteoporotic HF, who were transferred following surgery for rehabilitation in the geriatrics department in two time periods: before and after the implementation of an institutional FLS ("geriatric-pre-FLS" and "geriatric-FLS" cohorts, respectively). Data were captured from electronic records and the two cohorts were compared following an assessment of baseline characteristics, follow-up, and anti-osteoporosis treatment initiation. A multivariable Cox regression model evaluated differences between the cohorts regarding subsequent HF and mortality rates. Three hundred and eighteen and 448 patients comprised the geriatric-pre-FLS (07/2008–06/2014) and the geriatric-FLS (03/2016–03/2020) cohorts, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the cohorts (median age 81 vs. 82, p = 0.08 and female sex 73% vs. 70%, p = 0.48, respectively). Rates of endocrine consultation (3.5% vs. 99%%, p < 0.001), DXA-BMD testing (7.5% vs. 34%, p < 0.001), and parenteral anti-osteoporosis treatment (4% vs. 76.6%, p < 0.001) were all higher in the geriatric-FLS cohort. The implementation of the FLS led to a 48% reduction in subsequent HF risk (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.37–0.74, p < 0.001) and a 29% decrease in mortality rate (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54–0.92, p = 0.011). The implementation of an in-hospital FLS facilitated prompt initiation of anti-osteoporosis treatment following a HF, increased follow-up and treatment rates, and resulted in a 48% reduction in subsequent HF risk and a 29% reduction in mortality rates.