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Management of vertebral compression fracture in general practice: BEACH program
Rodrigo Z Megale1, Allan Pollack2, Helena Britt3
1Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Plos One
|May 5, 2017
Summary
Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for vertebral compression fractures in older adults, despite limited evidence. Further clinical trials are needed to improve patient care and management strategies for these debilitating fractures.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Orthopedics
- General Practice
Background:
- Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) significantly impair function and quality of life in older adults.
- Current management strategies for VCFs lack widespread consensus.
- Effective VCF management is crucial for the aging population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the usual care practices of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia for managing VCFs.
- To identify common treatment modalities and referral patterns for VCFs in primary care.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health (BEACH) program (April 2005 - March 2015).
- Inclusion of GP encounters managing VCFs in patients aged 50 years and over.
- Assessment of patient demographics, diagnoses, and management provided.
Main Results:
- VCFs were managed in an estimated 26,000 encounters annually in Australia.
- Opioid analgesics were the most frequent management for VCFs in patients aged 50+ (47.1%).
- Non-pharmacological treatments (22.4%) and referrals (12.3%) were less common than analgesic prescriptions.
Conclusions:
- Oral opioid analgesics are a prevalent treatment for VCFs in general practice, unsupported by robust evidence.
- There is an urgent need for clinical trials to establish evidence-based guidelines for VCF management.
- Improving VCF care quality requires further research into optimal treatment approaches.
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