Low rates of osteoporosis treatment after hospitalization for hip fracture in Hawaii.

Unlabelled: We evaluated osteoporosis treatment and DEXA utilization rates of patients who were admitted for hip fracture in a single healthcare system in Hawaii from 2015 to 2016. We found that osteoporosis treatment and DEXA utilization rates were low, highlighting a critical gap in osteoporosis care after admission for hip fracture.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate osteoporosis care after an admission for hip fracture at three community hospitals within a single healthcare system in Hawaii.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted (n = 428) of patients ≥ 50 years and hospitalized for hip fractures between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016, at three major hospitals within Hawaii Pacific Health, a large healthcare system in Hawaii. Basic demographics were collected, and medications prescribed were quantified and described within 1 year of hip fracture. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between collected variables and the odds of osteoporosis treatment.

Results: Only 115 (26.9%) patients were prescribed a medication for osteoporosis as a secondary prevention within a year of hospitalization for hip fracture. DEXA scans were performed in 137 (32.0%) patients. Most of the treated patients were prescribed oral bisphosphonates. Treatment facility, female gender, and higher BMI were found to be predictive factors for osteoporosis treatment.

Conclusion: The use of osteoporosis medication for secondary prevention after admission for hip fracture in Hawaii is low. Efforts need to be made to improve treatment rates, especially among males.