To Prevent Fracture, Influenza Prevention May Be Key

Older adults with influenza have a substantially higher risk of fracture or fall injury than their counterparts without influenza, a new study shows. 

According to the researchers, the finding supports the importance of preventing not only influenza, but also falls among those already diagnosed with the infection. These results were shared during The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2020 Annual Meeting. 

To reach their conclusion, the researchers analyzed data on 6692 patients aged 70 years or older who had been diagnosed with seasonal influenza at hospitals in Sweden from December 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017. These patients—50.9% of whom were women—had a mean age of 82.3 years and a mean Charlson Comorbidity Index of 2.2.

The data from this group were then compared with data from 6692 propensity score-matched controls derived from the general population.

During the first 14 days after baseline, patients with influenza experienced a total of 217 fractures or fall injuries while the control group experienced 32 fractures or fall injuries. Per 1000 person-years, the incident rate of fractures or fall injuries was 900 among the influenza group and 127 among the control group. A logistic regression model showed that patients with influenza were at an increased risk for fracture or fall injury.

The increased risk of fracture or fall injury among those with influenza remained even during days 15 to 60 after baseline. While patients who had acquired influenza had an incident rate of 195 per 1000 person-years, patients who had not acquired influenza had an incident rate of 112 per 1000 person-years. A Cox model showed that patients with influenza had an increased risk of fracture or fall injury.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Axelsson K, Litsne H, Lorentzon M. Associations between seasonal influenza, fractures and fall injuries — a national retrospective cohort study. Poster presented at: ASBMR 2020 Annual Meeting; September 11-15, 2020; virtual event. https://www.asbmr.org/annual-meeting