Epidemiology of fragility fractures in Sakaiminato, Japan: incidence, secular trends, and prognosis.

UNLABELLED

We investigated the incidence of fragility fractures from 2010 to 2012 in Sakaiminato, Japan. The incidence rates of limb fractures in Sakaiminato were lower than in Caucasian populations but had increased relative to data obtained in Japan in the 1990s. Clinical vertebral fractures occurred at higher rates in Sakaiminato than in Caucasian populations.

INTRODUCTION

To elucidate the incidence and prognosis of fragility fractures in Sakaiminato, Japan.

METHODS

A survey of all hip, distal radius, proximal humerus, and clinical vertebral fractures was performed from 2010 to 2012 in patients aged 50 or older in Sakaiminato city, Tottori prefecture, Japan. The age- and gender-specific incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were calculated based on the population of Sakaiminato city each year. The incidence rates of hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus fractures were compared with previous reports. We conducted a follow-up study assessing patients within 1 year following their initial treatment at two Sakaiminato hospitals.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted incidence rates in population aged 50 years or older (per 100,000 person-years) of hip, distal radius, proximal humerus, and clinical vertebral fractures were, respectively, 217, 82, 26, and 412 in males and 567, 432, 96, and 1229 in females. Age-specific incidence rates of hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus fractures all increased since the 1990s. Our study also revealed that anti-osteoporotic pharmacotherapy was prescribed 1 year post-fracture at rates of 29, 20, 30, and 50 % for patients with hip, distal radius, proximal humerus, and clinical vertebral fractures, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rates of limb fractures in Sakaiminato were substantially lower than Caucasian populations in northern Europe but had increased relative to data obtained in Japan in the 1990s. Unlike upper and lower limb fractures, clinical vertebral fractures occurred at higher rates in our study population than in other Asian and North European countries.