Effects of the falls and fractures clinic as an integrated multidisciplinary model of care in Australia: a pre-post study.

OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, the approach to fracture prevention has focused on increasing bone mineral density while typically lacking a combined clinical approach to falls prevention and vice versa. To resolve this gap, we implemented and evaluated a novel combined model of care to the assessment and prevention of osteoporosis and falls in the outpatients setting.
SETTING: Falls and Fractures Clinic (FFC) at Nepean Hospital (Penrith, NSW, Australia). PARTICIPANTS: Pre-effects and posteffects assessment of 106 community-dwelling older patients referred from the community. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Previous falls and fractures were recorded. Clinical, functional and paraclinical evaluations were performed. A comprehensive multidisciplinary care plan was then tailored based on the presence of risk factors. Six-month follow-ups were performed assessing the incidence of falls and fractures, change in risk factors for falls and level of risk, with the recommended plan.
RESULTS: We report that 97% of patients had a fall in the preceding 6 months, 47.6% of whom experienced a fracture from the fall. Furthermore, 64% of patients had a marked risk for falling by Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA), 90% had intermediate-high 10-year probability of fracture according to FRAX and 78% had sarcopenia. At 6-month follow-up, we observed more than an 80% reduction in falls and recurrent falls, and 50% reduction in fractures. In addition, 65% of patients had reduced PPA and a 57% reduction in 10-year fracture probability.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we suggest that a multidisciplinary FFC can provide substantial reductions in falls and fractures for high-risk older people, even over a relatively short 6-month time period. The current model of service provision via traditional falls clinics could be significantly improved by encompassing fracture prevention within the multifactorial approach to interventions. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

We propose a novel operational model of care to specifically include a multifactorial focus on both falls and fracture prevention. We report a significant reduction in incident falls, physiological falls risk, the number of incident fractures and fracture risk.

Greater patient adherence to recommended interventions, especially a combination of interventions, was more likely associated with reduced falls risk, number of falls and incident fractures.

Limitations of these study include lack of a control group and the use of self-reported data on falls and adherence.

Introduction

Multifactorial intervention strategies, based on clinically determined individual needs, can reduce falls and falls risk in older people.1–3 The traditional model of geriatrician-run falls clinic for older people is highly multifactorial in the provision of (1) assessment and management of patients with falls, mobility and balance problems, (2) time-limited intervention, advice and referral to mainstream services and (3) education and training to caregivers and health professionals.4

For older community-dwelling adults, fall prevention strategies may also reduce fall-induced injuries. However, the ability of falls clinics to prevent fractures in high-risk fallers is often contested,5 with positive outcomes reported by some,6–8 but not all.9 10 These discrepancies may be related to the model of care provided by falls clinics, which does usually focus on falls prevention. Likewise, the traditional approach to fracture prevention via osteoporosis/bone metabolic clinics has typically focused on increasing bone mineral density (BMD), while lacking a combined clinical approach to falls prevention. Imperative to the effectiveness of clinics to reduce falls and/or fractures is patient adherence to recommended interventions.2 11 Adherence by older people to a range of falls-prevention interventions is often suboptimal, ranging from 50% to 70%.12 Similarly, osteoporosis clinics also show significant reductions in patient compliance after 6 months of initiating osteoporosis treatment.13

In this study, our primary aim was to assess the pre–post effects of a novel combined model of care—the falls and fractures clinic (FFC)—in reducing the incidence of both falls and fractures. Our secondary aims were to evaluate the impact of recommended interventions on reducing falls and fracture risk over 6 months of follow-up.

Methods

Setting and participants

This prospective observational study assessed all community-based patients aged ≥65 years who attended a baseline and 6-month follow-up assessment at our FFC based at Nepean Hospital (Penrith, Australia), from January 2013 to December 2014. Patients had been referred to the FFC by local general practitioners, medical clinics or via the Nepean Hospital inpatient referral processes.

Eligibility criteria to attend the FFC included ability to mobilise with a walker or cane(s), willingness to attend the clinic and at least one of the following: multiple faller (≥2 in the last year), single faller with established gait and/or balance problems, unexplained fall/s with apparent complex medical cause(s), a self-reported fragility fracture(s) (last 5 years, and no earlier than 3 months) and a clinically determined increased risk of fractures (for instance, measured by the FRAX or Garvan fracture risk algorithms) and/or a paraclinical measure of femoral neck BMD ≤2.5 SD below the young adult mean. Patients with a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) less than 18/30 were excluded. Participant consent was waived due to the low nature of this study.

Patient and public involvement

Patients and public were not involved in the design of this study. Results will not be disseminated to study participants.

Potential confounders

Age was defined in years. Standing height (centimetres) and weight (kilograms) were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) as kg/m2. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale, with a cut-off of <6 (out of a possible 15 points) considered as normal.14 Nutritional intake was assessed using the calculated BMI and the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool, in which a score <12 (out of a possible 14) was considered as high risk for malnutrition or undernourishment.15

Falls and falls risk

Patients self-reported the number of falls that were experienced during the 6 months preceding, and following, the first attendance at the FFC, whereby a fall was defined as ‘unexpected and involuntary loss of balance, causing the person an undesired contact with the ground’.16

Physiological falls risk

Physiological falls risk was assessed using the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) (Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia),17 a valid and reliable tool that can also discriminate between older people who fall once compared with recurrent fallers. Based on the performance in five domains (postural sway, hand reaction time, quadriceps strength, proprioception and edge contrast sensitivity), the PPA provides a standardised fall risk score, with a 75% predictive accuracy.17 PPA z-scores of 0–1 indicate mild risk, 1–2 moderate risk, 2–3 high risk and ≥3 marked risk.18 For analyses, and due to the sample size, values of falls risk were categorised as low/mild risk (scores of 0 to <2), moderate risk (2 to <3) and high risk (≥3).

Fear of falling

The self-reported Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly19 was used to assess fear of falling—a major risk factor for falls in ambulatory older persons20—and categorised as no/mild fear (1–2), moderate fear (3) or high fear (4).

Risk factors for falling

Clinical risk factors for falling4 were assessed, including orthostatic hypotension, proprioceptive/vestibular disorder, dizziness, use of medications known to increase falls risk (sedatives, analgesics, psychotropic, antihypertensives, vasodilator or cardiac vasodilator, diuretics, antiparkinsonian, antidepressants, vestibular suppressant and anticonvulsants), vasovagal symptoms or signs, or vision and hearing impairment.

Handgrip strength, gait velocity and sarcopenia

Grip strength (kg) was recorded as the best of three attempts (Smedley Hand Dynamometer). Using a GAIT Rite (CIR Systems, Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA) instrumented walkway, gait velocity was recorded as the distance (metres) travelled per second. Sarcopenia was determined if at least two of the following criteria were fulfilled: gait velocity <0.8 m/s, grip strength <20 kg (females) or <30 kg (males) and appendicular lean mass (ALM)/ht2 <5.5 kg/m2 (females) or <7.26 kg/m2 (males).21

Fractures and fracture risk

Fractures

The number of radiologically confirmed peripheral fracture events, including limbs and limb girdles, was ascertained.16 Patients self-reported the number of fractures that were experienced during the 6 months preceding, and following, the first attendance at the FFC.

BMD and body composition by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

BMD and body composition (fat and lean mass, and height-adjusted ALM/ht2) were assessed using a Hologic DPX-IQ Discovery DXA machine (GE Healthcare, Pollards Wood, UK). BMD T-scores measured at the femoral neck were classified as: normal (more than −1 SD below the young adult mean), osteopenia (between −2.4 SD and −1 SD) and osteoporosis (at or lower than −2.5 SD).

10-year fracture probability

The 10-year probability of fracture was assessed using the FRAX fracture risk algorithm (Australian database)22 23; where available, BMD was included in the calculation of fracture probabilities. Included in the calculation of FRAX scores were patient-specific data regarding secondary osteoporosis, including insulin-dependent diabetes, adult osteogenesis imperfecta, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, menopause <45 years, hypogonadism, chronic malnutrition/malabsorption, chronic liver disease, celiac disease, chronic renal failure, hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, hypogonadism, rheumatoid arthritis and glucocorticoid use. Classification of risk, according to FRAX and based on the history of previous osteoporosis treatment, was based on the absolute risk of any major osteoporotic fracture with 20% considered as high risk, 10%–20% intermediate risk and <10% low risk.22

Serum measurements

Blood samples were collected at baseline and 6-month follow-up from patients, while at rest, from which serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3 (vitamin D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, thyroid-stimulating hormone, creatinine, haemoglobin (Hb) and albumin were analysed. Serum vitamin D concentrations were measured by chemiluminescence using the Elecsys 25(OH)D3 assay (Roche): intra-assay and interassay precisions were, respectively, 7.5% and 10.6% (normal range=10–132 nmol/L). Vitamin D deficiency was determined as concentrations<50 nmol/L. Intact PTH was measured by immunochemoluminometric assay (Immulite 2000; normal range=3.9–77.2 pmol/L: intra-assay and interassay precisions were 7% and 5%, respectively). Serum calcium and albumin were determined using automated standard laboratory methods and used to correct calcium values (calcium corrected value=Ca+0.8 (40−albumin)) for analyses (normal range=2.15–2.55 mmol/L). Creatinine clearance was calculated from the Cockcroft formula: (((140−age in years)×weight (kg)/72×creatinine nmol/L)). Anaemia was categorised as Hb <120 g/L. All measurements were performed at pathology networks affiliated with the Nepean Hospital.

The Nepean FFC

Baseline assessment

Following the comprehensive baseline assessment of each patient, the FFC team (composed by a geriatrician, a nurse, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist) discussed individual falls and fracture risk factors to determine the most appropriate patient-specific multifactorial interventions. This exercise was in line with the Prevention of Falls Network Europe taxonomy whereby subjects receive different combinations of interventions, based on individual risk factors.24 The multicomponent interventions, which were tailored but not limited to individually assessed risk factors,25 included: vitamin D/calcium supplementation, osteoporosis medications, adjustment to current medication regimes, supervised group exercise programmes (strength and balance training: two 60 min sessions per week for 6 weeks), proprioceptive/vestibular retraining exercise,26 physical therapy (gait and balance training),25 protein supplementation, hip protectors, occupational therapy and referrals to other specialists. These interventions were based on a taxonomy for classifying fall-prevention interventions, as previously recommended.25

Six-month follow-up

At the 6-month follow-up, patients were reassessed for risk factors, incident falls or fractures. Patient data gathered at the 6-month follow-up were ascertained using identical processes and measurement tools as employed for baseline assessments. Patient adherence data during the previous 6 months were also ascertained and defined as completion of the recommended number of home exercise sessions prescribed to the patient at baseline assessment, and/or medication use according to the prescribed timing and dosage. Adherence was defined as follow through with fall-prevention recommendations.27 Intervention adherence included personalised education with an emphasis on understanding why adhering to treatment recommendations from the FFC would decrease their risk of falling and/or fracturing.27

Statistical analyses

Differences between baseline assessment and the 6-month follow-up were assessed using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. Comparison of the four main outcomes (falls risk, fracture risk, number of falls and fractures) between follow-up and baseline was performed using general estimating equations for ordinal responses (with logit link function) and for counts (with negative binomial link function). Association of other characteristics and interventions on the improvement in the outcome (classified as improved vs not improved) was compared using rank sum test or Fisher’s exact test. Change in scores between the adherent versus non-adherent groups were compared using Fisher’s exact test. All analyses were performed using Stata V.15.1 (StataCorp. 2017, Stata Statistical Software: Release 15, StataCorp LLC) and r (R Core Team (2018). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL https://www.R-project.org/).

Results

Of the 129 patients that attended the baseline FFC assessment, 14 did not undergo a follow-up assessment, while a further 9 were reassessed prior to the 6-month follow-up clinic: this left 106 patients eligible for prospective analyses. No differences were observed for demographics, falls-related or fracture-related outcomes in those that returned for 6-month follow-up compared with those that did not (data not shown).

Table 1 presents the overall, and sex-specific, baseline demographic, clinical and biochemical characteristics (n=106; 68% women; mean age 78±8 years). A slightly greater proportion of women were obese compared with men (31.4% vs 25.8%, respectively), while twice as many men were overweight compared with women (48.4% and 22.9%, respectively). BMD T-scores at the hip were similar for both sexes, and mainly within the osteopenia range. Almost all patients (97%) had experienced at least one fall within the 6 months prior to baseline and 47.6% of patients reported a previous fracture at their first assessment. Approximately 90% of patients had a FRAX score indicative of intermediate or high risk; more women than men had FRAX scores in the high-risk category (51% vs 18%). Some between-sex differences were observed in albumin and creatinine levels. ~70% of men and ~85% of women met the criteria for a diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Table 1

Participant demographic, clinical and biochemical characteristics at baseline

Characteristics	Total (n=106)	Men (n=34; 32%)	Women (n=72; 68%)
Age, mean (SD)	78.8 (7.0)	77.9 (6.6)	79.3 (7.2)
BMI (kg/m2), n=101
BMI, median (IQR)	26.0 (23.1, 30.7)	26.9 (24.7, 30.1)	25.7 (23.0, 31.7)
BMI categories
Normal (18–24.99)	40 (39.6)	8 (25.8)	32 (45.7)
Overweight (25–30)	31 (30.7)	15 (48.4)	16 (22.9)
Obese (>30)	30 (29.7)	8 (25.8)	22 (31.4)
Falls and falls risk
Number of falls, median (IQR)	2 (1, 5)	3 (2, 6)	2 (1, 3.5)
Physiological falls risk, n (%)
Mild/moderate risk (1–2)	2 (1.9)	1 (2.9)	1 (1.4)
High risk (2–3)	36 (34.0)	12 (35.3)	24 (33.3)
Marked risk (≥3)	68 (64.2)	21 (61.8)	47 (65.3)
Fear of falling, n (%) (n=90)
None/mild (1–2)	17 (18.9)	9 (30.0)	8 (13.3)
Moderate (3)	51 (56.7)	14 (46.7)	37 (61.7)
High (4)	22 (24.4)	7 (23.3)	15 (25.0)
Sarcopenia, n=105
Met criteria for sarcopenia	83 (78.3)	23 (69.7)	60 (83.3)
Fractures and fracture risk
BMD*, median (IQR) (n=92)	−2.2 (−2.6,–1.2)	−2.15 (−2.60, –1.20)	−2.20 (−2.70, –1.20)
BMD categories, n (%)
Normal (>−1)	18 (19.6)	5 (19.2)	13 (19.7)
Osteopenia (−2.5 to −1)	41 (44.6)	11 (42.3)	30 (45.5)
Osteoporosis (<−2.5)	33 (35.9)	10 (38.5)	23 (34.9)
FRAX, n (%)
Low risk	12 (11.3)	9 (26.5)	3 (4.2)
Intermediate risk	51 (48.1)	19 (55.9)	32 (44.4)
High risk	43 (40.6)	6 (17.6)	37 (51.4)
Biological measures, median (IQR)
Albumin (g/L) (n=97)	42 (40, 44)	41.0 (38.0, 43.0)	43.0 (41.0, 45.0)
Calcium† (mmol/L) (n=92)	2.4 (2.3, 2.5)	2.3 (2.3, 2.4)	2.4 (2.3, 2.5)
Creatinine (nmol/L) (n=98)	80 (65, 98)	90.0 (75.0, 110.0)	76.0 (62.5, 85.5)
eGFR (mL/min) (n=96)	66 (53, 85)	73.0 (55.0, 85.0)	65.5 (53.0, 80.0)
Hb (g/L) (n=94)	134 (124, 141)	134.0 (121.0, 147.0)	134.0 (126.0, 140.0)
Vitamin D (nmol/L) (n=94)	65 (48, 84.5)	60.0 (48.0, 72.0)	67.0 (48.0, 87.0)
PTH (pmol/L) (n=82)	6.2 (4.3, 8.8)	6.7 (4.6, 9.0)	5.7 (4.2, 8.6)
TSH (mlU/L) (n=85)	1.4 (0.9, 2.1)	1.4 (1.0, 1.9)	1.4 (0.8, 2.2)

*Bone mineral density (BMD) T-score is measured at the femoral neck.

Corrected calcium.

BMI, body mass index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; Hb, haemoglobin; PTH, parathyroid hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.

At the baseline FFC assessment, each patient was recommended at least two interventions; however, the most common number of interventions was four (33% of the sample), followed by six (24% of patients), and then five interventions (18%). The four interventions most often recommended were: supervised group exercise (97.2%), combined vitamin D/calcium supplementation (96.2%), osteoporosis treatment (67.0%), and medication adjustment (66.0%). At baseline, more than a third of patients were already taking osteoporosis medications (including bisphosphonates, denosumab or teriparatide) and 50% were already taking vitamin D/calcium supplementation. Overall, 15% of patients had adhered to all recommended interventions, 5% did not adhere to any and 81% adhered to only some of the recommended interventions. Adherence was greatest for vitamin D/calcium supplementation (85%) and lowest for hip protectors (15.4%).

Table 2 presents a comparison of falls risk factors from baseline to the 6-month follow-up. Compared with baseline, patients had a reduction in orthostatic hypotension (23.1% vs 11.5%, respectively) and vasovagal symptoms or signs (8.0% vs 1.0%, respectively). Depression and dizziness were marginally reduced (p=0.07, and p=0.06, respectively); however, visual impairment increased from 90.4% to 96.2%, respectively. Biochemical measures were not available for all patients who attended the follow-up; however, a minimal decrease in albumin levels was observed (p=0.046).

Table 2

Comparison of variables between participants with both baseline and 6-month follow-up values

Domain	Data available n=	Baseline	6-month follow-up	P value
Falls risk
Fear of falling, n (%)	40			0.10
None/mild (1–2)		8.0 (20.0)	14.0 (35.0)
Moderate (3)		24.0 (60.0)	19.0 (47.5)
High (4)		8.0 (20.0)	7.0 (17.5)
Risk factors for falls
Orthostatic hypotension	104	24 (23.1)	12 (11.5)	0.002
Depression	102	18 (17.7)	12 (11.8)	0.07
Proprioceptive*	103	86 (83.5)	85 (82.5)	1.00
Dizziness	103	26 (25.2)	18 (17.5)	0.06
Vasovagal symptoms or signs	100	8 (8.0)	1 (1.0)	0.02
Visual impairment	104	94 (90.4)	100 (96.2)	0.03
Hearing impairment	101	64 (63.4)	63 (62.4)	1.00
Malnutrition risk	101	26 (25.7)	25 (24.8)	1.00
Sarcopenia
Met criteria†, n (%)	105	83.0 (78.3)	79.0 (74.5)	0.51
Biochemical measures (IQR)
Albumin (g/L)	54	43 (41–45)	42 (40–44)	0.046
Corrected calcium (mmol/L)	41	2.4 (2.3–2.4)	2.4 (2.3–2.4)	0.31
Creatinine (nmol/L)	54	80 (70–90)	80 (70–95)	0.46
eGFR (mL/min)	54	65.5 (56, 78)	64 (54–82)	0.22
Hb (g/L)	53	132 (126–142)	132 (127–143)	0.30
Vitamin D (nmol/L)	51	63 (48–78)	65 (54–83)	0.32
PTH (pmol/L)	43	6.9 (4.2–9.5)	6.6 (4.7–10.8)	0.48
TSH (mlU/L)	44	1.5 (0.9–2.0)	1.6 (0.8–2.1)	0.15

Bold p values indicate significant difference between baseline and 6-month follow-up measures.

*Proprioceptive and vestibular abnormalities.

Sarcopenia criterion is fulfilling at least two of the following criteria: gait velocity <0.8 m/s, grip strength <20 kg (females) and <30 kg (males) and appendicular lean mass/height2<5.5 kg/m2 (females) or <7.26 kg/m2 (males).

BMD, bone mineral density (femoral neck); eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; Hb, haemoglobin; PTH, parathyroid hormone; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.

At the 6-month follow-up, 65% of patients showed reduced physiological falls risk (39% of those initially had moderate risk, and 81% of those had high risk), and 80% of patients had a reduced number of falls (71% of those with a single fall at baseline had no falls at follow-up, while 55% of those with ≥2 falls at baseline had no falls at follow-up) (figure 1). The odds of having a lower falls risk at 6 months were 10 times higher compared with baseline (OR 10.0, 95% CI 5.7 to 17.6, p<0.001), while the incidence of falls was lower by 35% (incident rate ratio (IRR)) 0.65, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.73, p<0.001).

Figure 1

Level of improvement in falls-related and fracture-related outcomes from baseline to the 6-month follow-up, depending on baseline falls and fracture profiles.

The incidence of fractures at 6 months was reduced for 76% (IRR 0.24, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.43, p<0.001) with almost 50% of patients showing a reduction in the number of fractures. A significant reduction was also observed for the 10-year probability of fracture, calculated by the use of FRAX; 57% of patients falling into the high-risk group at baseline were classified as either intermediate or low risk at follow-up, and 12% of those with intermediate FRAX risk at baseline had low risk at follow-up. The odds of having a lower FRAX score at 6 months were two times higher than at baseline (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.54 to 3.22, p<0.001).

Improvement in falls risk and/or number of falls was not associated with any demographic characteristic or intervention received. Higher proportion of those who had an improvement in falls risk showed an improvement in dizziness (16% vs 0%, p=0.011). Improvement in FRAX was associated with normal BMI (59% of those with improvement had normal BMI compared with 32% of those with no improvement, p=0.027), prescription of osteoporotic medications (83% vs 60%, p=0.024) and hip protectors (60% vs 27%, p=0.003). There were no differences in previous osteoporotic medications (27% vs 23%, p=0.80). Improvement in number of fractures was associated with female sex (78% vs 59%, p=0.058), improvement in proprioception (11% vs 2%, p=0.039) and nutritional risk (4% vs 2%, p=0.004). The greatest improvement in patients were observed for those that were prescribed osteoporotic medications (93% vs 46%, p<0.001), protein supplements (33% vs 12%) and hip protectors (59% vs 19%, p<0.001); however, improvements were also seen in patients that were least likely to receive balance exercise (28% vs 53%, p=0.017). Improvement was not associated with previous osteoporotic medications (28% vs 20%, p=0.37).

The comparisons for each of the falls-related and fracture-related outcomes between patients that adhered versus did not adhere for most recommended interventions are presented in table 3. Self-reported adherence to supervised exercise was associated with improvement in at least one category of falls risk (p=0.032), and a reduced number of falls (p=0.006), while adherence to vitamin D or calcium supplementation and/or osteoporosis medications was associated with a reduction in at least one category of fracture risk (p=0.061 and p=0.018, respectively). Although proportions were lower, adherence to changes in medications also reduced the number of incident fractures (p=0.044). No further associations were observed.

Table 3

Differences between patient adherence versus non-adherence with regards to most recommended interventions, for each of the falls-related and fracture-related outcomes.

Intervention	Fractures risk		Falls risk		Number of fractures		Number of falls
	N (%) improved	P value	N (%) improved	P value	N (%) improved	P value	N (%) improved	P value
Exercise programmes (n=99)
Adherent (n=40)	13 (33%)	0.65	30 (77%)	0.03	18 (45%)	1.00	37 (93%)	0.006
Non-adherent (n=59)	16 (27%)		32 (54%)		25 (43%)		41 (69%)
Vitamin D/calcium (n=100)
Adherent (n=85)	27 (32%)	0.06	54 (64%)	0.57	38 (45%)	0.57	65 (76%)	0.18
Non-adherent (n=15)	1 (7%)		11 (73%)		5 (33%)1		14 (93%)
Osteoporosis medications (n=66)
Adherent (n=48)	22 (46%)	0.01	34 (71%)	0.14	29 (60%)	0.56	38 (79%)	1.00
Non-adherent (n=18)	2 (12%)		8 (47%)		12 (71%)		15 (83%)
Medication changes (n=69)
Adherent (n=44)	14 (32%)	0.40	28 (64%)	1.00	16 (36%)	0.04	32 (73%)	0.22
Non-adherent (n=25)	5 (20%)		16 (64%)		16 (64%)		22 (88%)

Bold values indicate significant difference between baseline and 6-month follow-up measures.

Discussion

In the Nepean FFC, a novel operational model of care to specifically include a multifactorial focus on both falls and fracture prevention, we report a reduction in incident falls, physiological falls risk, the number of incident fractures and in the FRAX risk. Greater patient adherence to recommended interventions, particularly a combination of interventions, was more likely associated with reduced falls risk, number of falls and incident fractures. This observation from the FFC reinforces the positive results from previous pre–post intervention studies that have evaluated outcomes from patients of falls clinics.28

The effects of falls clinics to reduce falls have been reported by several studies2 3 8 29; however, the impact on fracture has been little investigated. An evaluation of 13 Australian Falls Clinics showed that the number of fall-induced injuries was reduced by more than 50% in the 6 months following initial clinical assessment.2 Our FFC showed a reduction in self-reported fractures; from 47.6% of patients who reported a previous fracture at their first assessment, only 8.6% reported new events at their 6 months of follow-up. Reductions in fractures, although at a much lower level, have been reported by other studies,7 while others reported no change in fractures.6 8 30 We also observed reductions in fracture probability over the 6 months, as measured by FRAX, despite falls not being included as a major risk factor within the algorithm. While FRAX calculations are recommended as being performed over a 2-year period,22 31 we considered that the absolute probability of fracture and the reversible level of risk were important to investigate. We suggest that the observed reduction in FRAX values was most likely related to the effect of our interventions on some of the components of FRAX such as secondary osteoporosis, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, reduction in alcohol consumption, correction of vitamin D levels, optimisation of diabetes treatment, and so on. The reduction in fractures observed in our model could be explained by a combination of falls-prevention strategies, correction of secondary causes of osteoporosis, and prompt initiation of, and adherence to, osteoporosis treatment. In addition, a continuous reduction in fracture risk would be expected to be potentiated by the antifracture efficacy in those already on osteoporosis medication, which usually starts 6–8 months after treatment initiation. Notably, the proportion of our patients that were already receiving osteoporosis treatment at baseline (36%) was similar to that reported by other studies.30 It is probably that many of effects observed 6-month follow-up period were for these patients on treatment at baseline.

Reductions in falls and falls-related injuries are highly associated with clinical interventions,2 4 9 which could have an ever-stronger beneficial impact would fracture prevention be integrated in the usual model of care. Therefore, it has been previously proposed that falls clinic be operationally linked to osteoporosis services such as FFC, which would facilitate a combined falls and fracture prevention in older persons.32 33 Discordant findings from other studies, where no change was observed, may also be related to their patient profile.9 10 Patients referred to our FFC included those that were overweight, osteosarcopenic, with intermediate/high fracture risk, high/marked risk for falling and moderate/high fear of falling: a profile similar to that reported for patients attending other falls clinics,2 30 and the type of patient most likely to benefit from multifactorial interventions.4 34 35 Our data reinforce the suggestion of better outcomes for older populations at a higher risk for falls and fractures. Previously, those who had reported exposure to a falls clinic in the past 5 years did report a substantially higher risk of falling in the past 12 months, suggesting it is those at high risk who have undertaken this type of programme.34

Sarcopenia is now a recognised risk factor for both falling36 and fragility fracture.37 In a pilot study, 90 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years attending a falls clinic, frailty, sarcopenia and nutritional status were assessed, with a high prevalence of sarcopenia identified.38 Patients suffering from both osteoporosis and sarcopenia—defined as osteosarcopenic—are considered at higher risk of poor outcomes such as falls, fractures, frailty and mortality.39 Approximately three-quarters of our patients at baseline had sarcopenia (two-thirds of them were osteosarcopenic), and one quarter were at high risk for malnutrition or undernourishment, which is an important risk factor for both osteoporosis and sarcopenia.40 Furthermore, the high proportion of individuals with obesity and sarcopenia in our study sample support our previous results regarding sarcopenic obese fallers being more likely to have lower BMD, lower grip strength, slower gait velocity and poor balance.41 These figures highlight the imperative to diagnose and identify risk factors for sarcopenia in this setting. After assessing nutritional risk, and after recommending protein supplements to all patients at high nutritional risk, we also observed that low adherence to nutritional interventions was associated with reduced albumin at the 6-month follow-up, indicating the importance of reinforcing nutrition as an effective falls and fracture prevention strategy.

The multifactorial recommendations employed by the FFC are comparable to others reported in the literature.2 6–8 41 We report patient adherence of 95% (full and partial adherence combined), which is mildly superior to other studies,2 6 28 42 and, as reported by others,2 we also observed patient adherence to vary accordingly across interventions. Strategies aimed at improving patient adherence would further enhance the clinical outcomes of FFCs; these strategies would necessarily involve a patient focus, but should also encompass healthcare providers and healthcare systems.11 We speculate there may be several adherence-related reasons for improvements in falls and fracture outcomes in our study. Exercise has been shown to be effective in reducing falls in older adults.1 Our results support this evidence and highlight the importance of adherence to exercise programmes. However, data suggest that adherence to home-based falls prevention exercises decline steadily over a 6-month period.43 Given this, healthcare providers have a critical role in improving adherence so as to increase the efficacy of falls prevention programmes.11

Data suggest that Fracture Liaison Services, and pharmacist-delivered counselling, may have positive influences on adherence to recommended osteoporosis medications44; this is imperative, given that non-adherence to osteoporosis medications has been associated with increased fracture risk over 12 months of follow-up.45 However, the reduced 10-year fracture probability that we observed suggests that interventions other than osteoporosis medication may have a positive effect on fracture risk, particularly given the suggestion that only 4%–30% of reduced fracture risk in association with antiresorptive therapy can be attributed to changes in BMD.46 Adherence to medications, and changes to medication regimes, appear to positively impact the number of incident fractures: we may speculate reasons for this. First, it may be related to the management of orthostatic hypotension, which is one of the most common interventions prescribed to manage falls risk in clinical practice.11 Second, polypharmacy has been shown as increasing the risk of fragility fracture; thus, changes to medication regimes may indirectly result in a decreased risk for falls and thus fractures.47

Our study has several strengths. We provide strong evidence that added patient benefit can be gained from traditional geriatrician-run falls clinics, if the model of care is revised to provide a combined focus on falls and fractures. We also provide evidence suggesting the imperative of patient adherence to multifactorial interventions for falls and fracture prevention. Finally, patient adherence at our FFC was higher than previously reported; thus, our FFC model provides novel insights into effective interventions. Our study also has some limitations. Given the absence of a control group and the use of multiple comparisons within the group, we suggest care be taken in interpreting our findings. Future randomised control trials are warranted to support our findings with respect to the observed decrease in falls and fracture risk. Radiographic confirmation of fractures was not undertaken. We acknowledge that self-reported falls, fracture and adherence data, particularly from older persons who are keen to reduce their risk, may introduce social desirability bias. Our study did not employ diaries to record falls and/or fractures. Biochemical data were not available for a large proportion of our FFC patients that attended the 6-month follow-up, thereby limiting our ability to comment on change in biomarkers. Similarly, a longer period of time would be required in order to observe substantial changes in BMD, and indeed to investigate the efficacy of the FFC in populations at high risk for falls and fractures. In addition, a much larger sample is required in order to confirm our observed antifracture reduction, and to enable us to confirm the generalisability of our findings. Finally, investigating the cost effectiveness of our interventions was beyond the scope of this study.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we report that our multidisciplinary FFC substantially reduced falls and fracture risk in older people at high risk of these adverse events, even over a relatively short 6-month time period. The current model of service provision via falls clinics could be significantly improved by encompassing fracture prevention within the multifactorial approach to interventions. This new model of care appears to be the optimal setting to assess and treat older patients with osteosarcopenia at very high risk for falls and fractures. Targeted efforts to improve patient adherence will enhance the benefit gained, especially if adherence to a combination of interventions is achieved.