Citation

Iglesias CP, Manca A, Torgerson DJ. Osteoporos. Int. 2009; 20(6): 869-878.

Affiliation

Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building Room 148, York, YO10 5DD, UK, cpiu1@york.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00198-008-0753-5

PMID

18846400

Abstract

Fractures and falls are serious cause of morbidity and cost to society. Our results suggest that the main burden to morbidity, measured as impact on health-related quality of life, is due to fear of falling rather than falls or their sequelae, such as fractures. INTRODUCTION: Fractures and falls are serious cause of morbidity and cost to society. We investigated the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with falls, fractures and fear of falling and falls and fractures cost. METHODS: Three datasets providing longitudinal data on fear of falling, HRQoL and a common set of baseline risk factors for fracture (smoking status, weight and age) were analysed. Multilevel random effects models were used to estimate the long-term impact on HRQoL associated with falls, fractures and fear of falling. Healthcare resource use primary data were collected to estimate falls and fractures cost. RESULTS: Older, low weight and smoking women reported lower HRQoL. The impact on HRQoL of a fracture was at least twice as large as that associated with falls. The largest negative effect on HRQoL was associated with self-reported fear of falling. The cost of falls was pound1088. Similarly, the cost of falls leading to a fracture was pound15,133, pound2,753, pound1,863, pound1,331 and pound3,498 for hip, wrist, arm, vertebral and other fractures, respectively. DISCUSSION: The main burden to morbidity is due to fear of falling. Interventions aimed at reducing fear of falling may produce larger gains in HRQoL.

Language: en