Accidental Falls, Disability, Osteoporosis
Conditions
Brief summary
Osteoporosis and falls occur with increasing frequency among the elderly. Osteoporosis and fall increases the risk of fracture. Falls in the elderly are associated with a high morbidity and mortality with potentially life-threatening consequences of falls including fractures. Besides fracture fall may cause long term problems such as disability fear of falling and loss of independence. Today osteoporosis is diagnosed by bone scan of the hip and spine. The investigators want to investigate whether other more accessible and less expensive testing methods can be used to diagnose osteoporosis. Additionally, the investigators will examine the incidence of osteoporosis among the elderly in the municipality of Odense. Finally, the investigators would like to investigate the association between factors that can lead to falls and to investigate the performance of older and whether there are changes in functional ability over time.
Detailed description
Study Objectives 1. To define the prevalence of osteoporosis in a falls clinic population, and compare it with two aged matched control groups - fallers not attending the falls clinic and non-fallers. 2. To evaluate the usefulness of peripheral bone scanning techniques in a falls clinic population. 3. To determine the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a falls clinic population and compare it with two aged matched control groups - fallers not attending the falls clinic and non-fallers 4. To investigate functioning, disability, health related quality of life and perceived need for rehabilitation in a falls clinic population including variation in a one year period, and compare it with two aged matched control groups - fallers not attending the falls clinic and non-fallers.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Odense University Hospital
University of Southern Denmark
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Women aged 65 years or over attending the falls clinic \*(There will be no upper age limit to recruitment). * Those capable of giving Informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients under the age of 65 years. * Men. * Patients unwilling to give informed consent. * Cognitively impaired people who are not capable of giving consent. * Patients who are not mobile enough to be helped onto a DXA scan table with help
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Basis mobility | One year | Time up and go, Chair stand, Bergs balance scale, Avlunds scale, gait speed and dual-task will be used |
| Fear of falling | One year | The Falls Efficacy scale - international will be used |
| Muscle strength in upper and lower extremities | One year | A dynamometer will be used |
| Bone mineral density using DXA of hip and spine regions (Hologic machine) | baseline | — |
| Prevalence of vertebral fractures using instant vertebral assessment mode (IVA) of the DXA machine (Hologic machine) | baseline | — |
| Bone mineral density of the phalanges using radiographic absorptiometry (Alara Metriscan machine) | baseline | — |
| Broad band ultrasound attenuation of the heel using the heel ultrasound machine (Lunar Achilles machine) | baseline | — |
| Fall incidences | one year | — |
| Mental health state | one year | Meausered by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) |
| Health related quality of life | one year | Self Reporting Questionnaire will be used |
| Perceived need | one year | Self Reporting Questionnaire |
Countries
Denmark
Outcome results
None listed