Facilitated bone mineral density testing versus hospital-based case management to improve osteoporosis treatment for hip fracture patients: additional results from a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
We previously demonstrated that a case manager intervention improved osteoporosis (OP) treatment within 6 months of hip fracture compared with usual care. The second phase of the randomized trial compared a less intensive intervention, facilitated bone mineral density (BMD) testing, with usual care and the case manager intervention.


METHODS
We initially randomized 220 hip fracture patients to either an OP case manager intervention or usual care. After completing the original trial at 6 months postfracture, usual care patients were reallocated to facilitated BMD testing; BMD tests were arranged and results sent to primary care physicians. Main outcomes (bisphosphonate treatment, BMD tests, receipt of appropriate care) were reascertained 1 year following hip fracture and compared with outcomes achieved by the OP case manager intervention and usual care.


RESULTS
Compared with usual care, facilitated BMD testing increased testing from 29% to 68% (P < 0.001), bisphosphonate use from 22% to 38% (P < 0.001), and receipt of appropriate care from 26% to 45% (P < 0.001). The more intensive (70 versus 30 minutes) and expensive ($56 versus $24 Canadian per patient) OP case manager intervention led to significantly higher bisphosphonate use (54% versus 38%; P = 0.03), receipt of appropriate care (71% versus 45%; P < 0.001), and more BMD testing (80% versus 68%; P = 0.06) than usual care followed by facilitated BMD testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with usual care, 2 different inexpensive interventions resulted in significant increases in appropriate management of OP after hip fracture. The magnitude of improvements achieved was directly related to the intensity of the interventions.
Morrish
Donald W
DW
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. dmorrish@ualberta.ca
Beaupre
Lauren A
LA
Bell
Neil R
NR
Cinats
John G
JG
Hanley
David A
DA
Harley
Charles H
CH
Juby
Angela G
AG
Lier
Douglas A
DA
Maksymowych
Walter P
WP
Majumdar
Sumit R
SR
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019090:Case Management; D019091:Critical Pathways; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates