Osteoporosis Risk Scores to Predict Increased Levels of Care in Older Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery

Frailty has been linked to postoperative morbidity and increased care needs in older patients undergoing major vascular surgery. Osteoporosis scores measure a selection of risk factors common to osteoporosis, frailty and vascular disease and therefore may be used to support decision making in vascular patients. The aim was to investigate the association between existing osteoporosis risk scores and changes to levels of care needs after major vascular surgery.

A single center retrospective cohort study of Māori and Pasifika patients aged 50+ and patients of NZ European/other ethnicity aged 65+. Binary logistic models examined for association between FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool)/Garvan scores and level of care at discharge, 3 months and 1 year after major vascular surgery.

Data were available for 172 patients. Mean age was 76 ± 8 years. Increasing FRAX score was associated with increased level of care at discharge (OR = 1.049, p = 0.014), 3 months (OR = 1.053, p = 0.008), and 1 year (OR = 1.076, p < 0.001). Increasing Garvan score was also associated with increased level of care at discharge (OR = 1.021, p = 0.017), 3 months (OR = 1.029, p = 0.002), and 1 year (OR = 1.038, p < 0.001).

In older adults, higher FRAX and Garvan scores are associated with increased levels of care after major vascular surgery.