The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of fall risk from a lifeworld perspective in elderly women with previous fragility fractures. Thirteen elderly women with a high risk of fall and fracture, aged 76-86, living in their own homes in rural areas, were recruited from a voluntary fracture prevention programme. All women had a history of fragility fractures and were interviewed in their homes from spring to autumn 2004. A phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach was chosen to analyse in-depth interview data. The study was conducted within an interdisciplinary research group inspired by dialogical research. Elderly women's life space has been narrowed due to advanced age, physical injury or by efforts to prevent new injuries leading to changes in self-perception. However, the women seek strategies to challenge limitations and insecurity, and strive to retain mobility and daily life routines. The four major constituents of the phenomenon 'elderly women's experiences of fall risk' emerged in this study: a changing body, living with precaution, ambiguous dependency and influence and need for understanding. Employing the women's thoughts and resources in trust-based dialogues with caregivers may strengthen their concord and the prospects to continue an active life. Elderly women seek strategies to challenge limitations and feelings of insecurity, and strive to maintain mobility and daily life routines. A trust-based care respecting the preferences of the women seemed to stimulate behavioural change in maintaining an active life.

PURPOSE One in 4 Swedish women experiences a hip fracture, an event that has high concomitant morbidity and mortality. We developed and validated a clinical predictor of fracture and mortality risk, the Fracture and Mortality (FRAMO) Index. METHODSThis was a population-based prospective cohort study with a baseline questionnaire and 2-year outcomes of hip fracture, fragility fracture, and death. The questionnaire was sent to 1,498 women aged 70 years or older in 3 rural populations, asking them about their age, weight, height, mobility, previous fractures, smoking, medication use, and housing. Some women were also asked about previous vertebral radiographs. We defi ned 2 risk models before outcome data collection and subsequently renamed 1 model (age ≥80 years, weight <60 kg, previous fragility fracture, and the need to use arms to rise from the sitting position) the FRAMO Index. We used logistic regression analysis to study the association between the FRAMO Index and outcomes in all participants. RESULTSThe participation rate was 83% in this elderly female population (N = 1,248). The 63% of women with 0 to 1 risk factor had a 2-year hip fracture risk of 0.8% and mortality risk of 3.2%. In contrast, women with 2 to 4 risk factors had a 2-year hip fracture risk of 5.4% (odds ratio = 7.5; 95% confi dence interval, 3.0-18.4) and mortality risk of 23.7% (odds ratio = 9.5; 95% confi dence interval, 6.0-14.9). These differences remained signifi cant after adjustment for age as a continuous variable. Mortality increased with the number of risk factors. The proportion of women reporting previous vertebral fractures was higher among the group specifi cally questioned about vertebral radiographs (P <.001).CONCLUSIONS The FRAMO Index identifi ed the majority of women who experienced hip fractures during a 2-year follow-up, who might have been candidates for intensifi ed preventive measures. The FRAMO Index, based on 4 binary risk factors, would be practical for routine use in primary care. 2007;5:48-56. DOI: 10.1370/afm.602. Ann Fam Med INTRODUCTIONH ip fracture is an increasing problem worldwide.1 One in 4 Swedish women (23%) experiences a hip fracture during her lifetime, an event that is associated with 20% mortality within 1 year. 2,3 There are several methods for fracture prevention, although they are underused in routine health care.Combinations of low bone mineral density (BMD) with certain clinical risk factors are associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, 4-8 but low BMD alone is less predictive of fracture. 4,9,10 Many individuals who have an elevated risk of hip fracture might be identifi ed by clinical risk factors alone. 4,5,11 Previously described risk factor models for hip fracture are fairly complicated, requiring several weighted variables. Six clinical risk factors (2 weighted) and BMD assessment predicted fractures in the PR EDIC T ING HIP FR AC T UR EStudy of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), and this risk factor combination was validated in another elderly community-based female populatio...

BackgroundOne in four Swedish women suffers a hip fracture yielding high morbidity and mortality. We wanted to revalidate a 4-item clinical risk score and evaluate a portable heel bone mineral density (BMD) technique regarding hip and fragility fracture risk among elderly women.MethodsIn a population-based prospective cohort study we used clinical risk factors from a baseline questionnaire and heel BMD to predict a two-year hip and fragility fracture outcome for women, in a fracture preventive program. Calcaneal heel BMD was measured by portable dual X-ray laser absorptiometry (DXL) and compared to hip BMD, measured with stationary dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technique.ResultsSeven women suffered hip fracture and 14 women fragility fracture/s (at hip, radius, humerus and pelvis) among 285 women; 60% having heel BMD ≤ -2.5 SD. The 4-item FRAMO (Fracture and Mortality) Index combined the clinical risk factors age ≥80 years, weight <60 kg, prior fragility fracture, and impaired rise-up ability. Women having 2-4 risk factors showed odds ratio (OR) for hip fracture of 5.9 and fragility fracture of 4.4. High risk group hip fracture risk was 2.8% annually compared to 0.5% for the low risk majority (69%). Heel BMD showed hip fracture OR of 3.1 and fragility fracture OR of 2.6 per SD decrease. For 30 DXA assessed participants mean hip BMD at -2.5 SD level corresponded to a lower BMD at the heel. Five of seven hip fractures occurred within a small risk group of 32 women, identified by high FRAMO Index + prior fragility fracture + heel T-score ≤-3.5 SD.ConclusionsIn a follow-up study we identified high risk groups for hip and fragility fracture with our plain 4-item risk model. Increased fracture risk was also related to decreasing heel BMD in calcaneal bone, measured with a mobile DXL technique. A combination of high FRAMO Index, prior fragility fracture, and very low BMD restricted the high risk group to 11%, among whom most hip fractures occurred (71%). These practical screening methods could eventually reduce hip fracture incidence by concentrating preventive resources to high fracture risk women.

Background. Every fourth Swedish woman suffers hip fracture during life-time. Several methods for fall and fracture prevention are known. In this study we identify women at high hip fracture risk in a primary care population, describing their needs for possible fracture prevention as well.