Osteosarcopenia and geriatric hip fractures: Current concepts

According to World Health Organization, one in six people will be older than 60 by 2030. The rising life expectancy is anticipated to contribute to a subsequent increase of geriatric fractures worldwide. Osteosarcopenia, which is the coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, greatly affects older people. Recent studies have tried to identify the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in older populations as well as its correlation with fragility fractures such as hip fractures. The latter pose a major burden on both health loss and costs worldwide. Increasing amount of evidence suggests that osteosarcopenia in patients with hip fractures contributes to higher rates of mortality and complications. At the same time, research focuses on the molecular basis of the interplay between osteoporosis and sarcopenia by utilizing genomic or proteomic approaches. These promising studies could reveal potential preventive or diagnostic biomarkers to optimize the management of osteosarcopenia in hip fractures patients. The fact that bones and muscle can also function as endocrine organs further highlights the complex relationship between osteoporosis and sarcopenia, underscoring the need for a better understanding of the role of myokines and osteokines in osteosarcopenia. Finally, the impact of osteosarcopenia on pain management and rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery, requires further assessment.