Osteoporosis & bone health

Contemporary pharmacological management of patients after hip fracture: a population-based cohort of over 120,000 patients in Spain

Osteoporos IntPublished Retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

In our study, we found a slight increase in treatment rates over time, but an important treatment gap in the contemporary secondary prevention of hip fracture is still present.

Study context

Population
Patients aged ≥65 years discharged alive after hip fracture hospitalisation (Jan 2008–Dec 2021), several regions of Spain (one third of the population)over 120,000 patients
Outcome
Proportion of patients prescribed any antiosteoporotic (AO) medication and specific classes
Follow-up
First 90 days after discharge
Methodological detailspopulation-based
  • Population-based

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Untreated with AO medication (treatment gap)

Patients untreated

78%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeValues
Treated, by age (subgroup)Aged ≤ 84 26% · Aged 85 + 18%
Treated, by sex (subgroup)Females 24% · Males 14%

Share of antiosteoporotic (AO) prescriptions by drug class

Bisphosphonates
60%
Denosumab
20%

Time trends in prescription

Increase over time, but prescription rates remained highly suboptimal
Bisphosphonate treatment dropped, denosumab treatment rose over the study period
Sex gap persistent in Mediterranean regions, gradually reduced in Northern regions
Treatment patterns by age groups consistent over time
Differences by region observed

Original publication

Contemporary pharmacological management of patients after hip fracture: a population-based cohort of over 120,000 patients in Spain. Osteoporos Int. Published 12 July 2025. doi:10.1007/s00198-025-07564-4

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

Get them every week

New studies on this topic in My Week and in your Monday e-mail.

We e-mail you a sign-in link and a code. No password, no spam.