Improvement in the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporosis by a Fracture Liaison Service: feedback from a single French center care pathway

Summary Osteoporosis is responsible for fragility fractures, thus causing significant morbidity and mortality. This study shows that care pathways, such as Le Mans General Hospital Fracture Liaison Service, are useful and efficient in improving the prevention of osteoporosis and of its consequences. Introduction Osteoporosis is a major public health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Care pathways, called Fracture Liaison Services, have demonstrated their utility in preventing osteoporosis-associated morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the activity of one such care pathway. Methods This was a retrospective, observational, cohort study, in which 272 patients who had fragility fractures between January 2012 and December 2016 were included. Screening of the medical records and data analyses were performed to characterize the population and the medical care received related to osteoporosis, and to compare these data with those of another study carried out from January 2010 to January 2011 on 54 patients in the same Fracture Liaison Service. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two cohorts concerning their demographic characteristics, with 92.3% women and a mean age of 68.7 in our cohort. Secondary prevention was improved, as shown by a reduction in the number of vertebral fractures detected by systematic assessment and fewer low-energy fractures. This study also demonstrated a decline in the percentage of patients with a first-degree parental history of hip fracture and a trend towards a decline in the rate of those having vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusions Communication with patients and healthcare professionals through the Fracture Liaison Service was beneficial for patients in terms of fracture prevention. This study supports the development of similar care pathways in other healthcare institutions.