Abstract 

Frail elders, 10-20% of the population over age 65, are at high risk for mortality, morbidity and high service use. Among the causes of morbidity, falls and subsequent fractures of the wrist, hip and spine are major contributors.  Osteoporosis, the excessive loss of bone mass, is also a major risk factor for fractures in the elderly. In advanced age, the prevalence of osteoporosis can reach 30-50%.
Objectives: To compare the prevalence of frailty in osteoporotic and non osteoporotic elderly women over age 70.

Methods

A random sample of elderly women over age 70, members of Kupat Holim Maccabi in the greater Jerusalem area, will be invited to participate. All participants will be interviewed using a structured questionnaire focusing on demographics, medical status and osteoporosis risk factors including previous fractures, age, smoking, medications etc and their frailty status determined using two sets of criteria developed by Fried (1997) and Saliba (1998). Osteoporosis status will be determined using densitometric techniques. Prevalence of frialty will be determined in osteoporotic vs non osteoporotic elders controlling for known risk factors. Non frail elders at baseline will be followed for two years at 6 month intervals to determine the incidence of frailty in osteoporotic vs non osteoporotics. Multiple regression techniques will be used to explore osteoporosis as a risk factor for frailty.
Contribution to Maccabi:
Identifying osteoporosis in elderly women and treating with medication and exercise will lead to decreased falls, morbidity and frailty adverse outcomes such as functional decline, nursing home placement and hospitalizations.

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