"If Elderly Aged 65 and Over Have a History of Falls, Risk of Fractures Increases"

Yongin Severance Endocrinology Department Professor Kim Kyung-min's Team
Considers Osteoporosis Treatment for Fracture Prevention

Professor Kim Kyung-min, Department of Endocrinology, Yongin Severance Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A study has found that elderly individuals with a history of falls have an increased risk of fractures within one year.

Professor Kim Kyung-min's team from the Department of Endocrinology at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, announced on the 6th that they confirmed the correlation between a history of falls and the risk of fractures within one year in elderly people aged 65 and older.

Professor Kim's team conducted the study based on international cohort study data for men and women aged 65 and older, namely the 'SOF (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures)' and 'MrOS (Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study)'. They regularly monitored falls and fractures every four months and followed the elderly male and female groups for 12.6 years and 14.8 years respectively, analyzing the correlation between falls within the recent 4 months or 1 year and the risk of imminent fractures within the next 1 to 2 years.

As a result, fractures occurring within the recent 4 months in elderly people aged 65 and older were found to significantly increase the risk of fractures occurring within the next year by more than twice. Additionally, in both men and women, a history of falls within the recent 4 months alone was shown to raise the risk of hip fractures to a level corresponding to the criteria for osteoporosis treatment.

Professor Kim said, “In the elderly, muscle strength and balance decrease, causing frequent falls. Through this study, we realized the need to pay more attention to fall history and prevention,” and added, “Patients with a history of falls are strongly encouraged to actively consider osteoporosis treatment to prevent fractures.”

This study was published in 'Age and Aging,' a prestigious international journal in the field of gerontology.

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