Older adults' medication use 6 months before and after hip fracture: a population-based cohort study

To study changes in use of fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) and bone density-related medication in participants with hip fracture before and after the fracture and to analyze differences between five healthcare districts.

Population-based cohort study.

Data retrieved from two national databases

All 2,043 people with hip fracture aged 60 and older in a Swedish county in 2006.

Changes in FRIDs and bone-active medications prescribed within 6 months before and 6 months after hip fracture and differences between health care districts.

Before hip fracture, 1,308 participants (67.7%) received any FRIDs or combinations; after fracture, 97.7% were treated. Polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) increased 39.3%, excessive polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) increased 36.4%, and use of three or more psychotropic drugs increased 8.6%. After fracture, the use of all analyzed drugs including psychotropic, cardiovascular, opioid, and anticholinergic drugs increased significantly (P<.001). Treatment with calcium and vitamin D increased from 9% before to 27.7% after and with bisphosphonates from 3.5% to 7.6%. Variations in postfracture prescribing between the five health care districts were observed regarding opioids (range 85-64%), bisphosphonates (range 20-4%), and calcium and vitamin D (72-13%) (P<.001, for all comparisons).

Two-thirds of participants with hip fracture were prescribed FRIDs before fracture, and the number increased significantly after fracture. Significant variations between healthcare districts in treating osteoporosis and pain were evident; geriatric support could be a contributing factor to the greater treatment in two districts.