It is of great importance to have good estimates of costs and health effects for osteoporosis-related fractures when health economic analyses of osteoporosis are conducted. Today, the empirical data on individual costs and health effects in relation to fractures are very scarce, especially when it comes to the consequences of vertebral and wrist fractures. Previous evaluations have quite often been based on professional assumptions regarding clinical treatment praxis for each fracture. It is hence very important to evaluate the individual costs and health effects of fractures to be able to get well-founded results in cost-effectiveness studies concerning the treatment of osteoporosis.

The same study design has previously been successfully used in the Swedish KOFOR-study. A report from this study is available in Osteoporos Int 2006 17:637-650.                          

Purpose

The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate the consequences of osteoporosis-related fractures in terms of costs and health related quality of life (QoL) in an international perspective. Specifically, the objective is to estimate the cost and QoL following hip fracture, vertebral fracture and wrist fracture in various countries.

Method

The study will include men and women who have had an osteoporosis-related fracture, i.e. not a fracture caused by high-energy trauma. Only patients over 50 years and living in a private residence will be included. Patients with dementia or psychological problem will be excluded. All patients included in this study will have given their formal consent for inclusion.

The study is divided into four phases. Each phase is constituted of one patient interview and data collection from patient journals, such as hospital admissions, x-ray examinations, medical examinations etc. In Phase 1, background information and health status, prior to- and right after fracture, is collected. The purpose of the following three phases is to estimate the mean costs and quality of life at 4, 5-12 and 13-18 months after fracture.

Ethical issues

This study will follow national ethical rules for all countries included. Where mandatory, ethical reviews have been done. All patients included in the study have given their formal consent. All patients’ will be identified by study ID, securing the integrity of each patient.

Results

Cost and quality of life data will be analysed to evaluate the effects of osteoporosis-related fractures. Patient inclusion will approximately take 12 months, and the final results will only be available when all patients have passed 18 months after fracture. The results will be documented in a scientific report.