The risk of hip and non-vertebral fractures in patients with Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is common in older individuals. PD patients have an increased risk of fractures compared to the general population, perhaps due to multiple falls. However, the fracture risk has not been fully assessed. To assess the impact of PD on the risk of hip and non-vertebral fractures, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Comprehensive searches of three key bibliographic databases were conducted to identify reviews and primary studies relating to the risk of fractures in patients with PD. Search terms included all relevant terms for Parkinson's disease and for fractures. We selected observational studies with data on the risk of fractures in adults with PD compared to controls without the diagnosis. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. The random-effects model was used to pool the results. Eighteen studies were included in the review. Seventeen independent studies (14 cohort and 3 case-control studies) were included in the hip fracture analysis. Nine studies (all cohorts, no case-control studies) were included in the non-vertebral fracture analysis. Study quality was judged to be moderate to good. Overall, PD patients had an increased risk for both hip fractures (2.40, 95% CI 2.04 to 2.82) and non-vertebral fractures (1.80, 95% CI 1.60 to 2.01) compared to controls. The relative risk for hip fractures was higher in men (2.93, 95% CI 2.05 to 4.18) than in women (1.81, 95% CI 1.61 to 2.04). There were no effects of the study design, geographical region, or criteria for diagnosing Parkinson's disease on these estimates of fracture risk. There is an increase in the risk of hip and non-vertebral fractures in patients with Parkinson's disease and we recommend a re-evaluation of the clinical guidelines on bone health in patients with PD to address this.

Parkinson's disease: the nutrition perspective

“…Although in a young healthy individual, a fall from standing height would not likely result in a fracture, in PD, reduced bone mineral density (150)(151)(152) and a higher frequency of falls increase fracture risk (43,(153)(154)(155)(156)(157)(158)(159) . Studies suggest that in PD, osteoporosis and fracture are twice as likely (150,160,161) , and in women, PD is the strongest single contributor to fracture risk (162) .…”

Hip Fracture Care in Parkinson Disease: A Retrospective Analysis of 1,239 Patients

“…Parkinson disease (PD) patients are susceptible to recurrent falls 1 - 3 and subsequent hip fractures. 1 , 2 , 4 - 8 They exhibit a 3-fold risk of falls compared to the general population, 3 with more than 50% sustaining repeated falls. 1 , 2 Of those that fall, approximately 1/3 sustain 1 or more fractures, with 28-50% of such fractures involving the hip.…”

The TOPAZ study: a home-based trial of zoledronic acid to prevent fractures in neurodegenerative parkinsonism

“…People with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a high risk of fracture that may be due, in large part, to their high risk of multiple falls and impaired reflexes to protect against injury during a fall. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that people with PD, based on data from health systems and self-report, have a 2.35-fold increased risk of hip and 1.8-fold increased risk of all fractures besides vertebral fractures 1 (Fig. 1).…”