The location of a broken bone can have an outsized impact on seniors’ long-term health, according to a new study of patients ages 50 and older.
Investigators followed 300,000 participants with low-trauma fractures. Those with broken bones closer to the body’s center (such as the upper arm, upper leg, pelvis and ribs) had a four-fold greater risk of death within two years than their peers with no fracture. They were also more likely to be admitted to the hospital for major medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
In contrast, study participants with a fracture farther from the body’s center (such as the wrist, ankle, hand or foot) had mortality and hospitalization risks lower than or similar to their peers with no fracture, reported senior author Jacqueline R. Center, Ph.D.
The research provides insights into why people with proximal (closer-in) fractures are more likely to die prematurely, said Center, of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia.
“Not only should people be treated for their bone health, but we now have information allowing us to understand why people do badly after a fracture and how we may intervene to improve outcomes,” she concluded.
The research has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
