PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Colleen J. Metge AU - William D. Leslie AU - Lori-Jean Manness AU - Marina Yogendran AU - C.K. Yuen AU - Brent Kvern TI - Postfracture care for older women DP - 2008 Sep 01 TA - Canadian Family Physician PG - 1270--1276 VI - 54 IP - 9 4099 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/54/9/1270.short 4100 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/54/9/1270.full SO - Can Fam Physician2008 Sep 01; 54 AB - OBJECTIVE To investigate rates of assessment and treatment of osteoporosis among older women during the year after they have had fractures. DESIGN Observational, historical, population-based cohort study. SETTING Manitoba, which maintains a comprehensive population-based repository of health care services provided and has a publicly funded health care system. PARTICIPANTS Women 50 years old and older who had suffered fractures between 1997 and 2002. These women were chosen from among approximately 175 000 women of this age in Manitoba. METHODS We examined each woman’s annual medical record between April 1, 1997, and March 31, 2002, to find any International Classification of Diseases fracture codes that have been consistently associated with osteoporosis. We looked for postfracture care during the first 12 months after fractures: bone mineral density (BMD) testing or treated with osteoporosis pharmacotherapy. Analysis was stratified by type of fracture: designated type 1 fractures (spine or hip) and type 2 fractures (not spine or hip). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Use of BMD testing or osteoporosis pharmacotherapy during the first 12 months following fractures. RESULTS For type 1 fractures, BMD assessment during the first year after fracture increased from 2.6% in 1997–1998 to 4.6% in 2001–2002 (P for trend .0004). Rates of therapy with osteoporosis medication increased from 4.9% in 1997–1998 to 17.6% in 2001–2002 (P for trend < .0001). Results were similar for type 2 fractures. In the final year of the study, only 20.5% of women with either type of fracture underwent any identifiable intervention (BMD assessment or osteoporosis pharmacotherapy). The intervention rate was substantially higher among women 50 to 64 years old (26.4%) than among those 75 years old or older (17.9%, P for trend < .0001). CONCLUSION Women at highest risk of future fractures are assessed infrequently for osteoporosis with BMD testing and given pharmacotherapy to prevent future fractures just as infrequently. This gap in care was particularly striking for BMD testing despite the fact that testing is free in Manitoba’s publicly funded system. Data from this study could be educational for physicians treating osteoporosis and should encourage them to improve their practice patterns and optimize patient care.