Non-osteoporotic fractures are associated with increased risk of subsequent major osteoporotic fractures

We studied the association between non-osteoporotic fractures and future major osteoporotic fractures, using UK health records. Non-osteoporotic fractures were found to increase the risk of major osteoporotic fractures, although to a lesser extent than osteoporotic fractures. This highlights the importance of considering all previous fractures in assessing future fracture risk.

Previous studies demonstrated that osteoporotic fractures-minor and major-increase the risk for future major osteoporotic fractures; we test whether non-osteoporotic fractures are also associated with such increased risk.

The study is a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care electronic health records. Exposure groups were defined according to fracture location prior to the year 2011 (index date): major, minor, and non-osteoporotic. The outcome of incident major osteoporotic fractures following the index date was compared between the exposure groups and the general population.

The general study population included 1,951,388 patients. The exposure groups included 39,931 patients with a prior major osteoporotic fracture, 19,397 with a prior minor osteoporotic fracture, and 50,115 patients with a prior non-osteoporotic fracture. The standardized Incidence Rate Ratio for future major osteoporotic fractures was 2.73 (95% confidence interval: 2.64-2.82), 2.43 (2.32-2.54), and 1.83 (1.74-1.92), respectively.

Non-osteoporotic fractures are significantly associated with increased risk for future major osteoporotic fractures relative to the general population, yet to a lesser extent compared to major and minor osteoporotic fractures.