Bones, Muscles & Rheumatology
Abstract
BONES, MUSCLE & RHEUMATOLOGY HOW COMMON ARE RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS IN ELDERLY INPATIENTS? B. AL-SAFFAR, R. McGOVERN, M. KINIRONS AND A. HOPPER Dept of Ageing and Health, Guyâs and St Thomasâs NHS Trust Introduction The RCP Guidelines on Osteoporosis suggest that frail elderly patients, in particular those with high risk of falls and/or housebound should be considered for treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplements. Others at high risk of osteoporosis should be considered for assessment and treatment. We surveyed osteoporosis risk factors in patients about to be discharged from our unit. Method Medically stable patients about to be discharged from the Elderly Care Unit at a London teaching hospital were surveyed over 6 weeks. Patients hospitalised with neck of femur fracture and those who appeared to have a life expectancy of less than 6 months were excluded. Body Mass Index (BMI) <19 (indicates high risk of osteoporosis) was estimated using demispan. Results 63 patients were analysed. (M: F, 25:38), mean age of 82 (range 65-100) yrs. 48/63 (76%) were permanently housebound, 53/63 (84%) were fallers i.e. had more than 2 falls in the last 6 months, 35/63 (55%) had BMI <19 (see table). 34/63 (54%) were