Odense Fallers and Osteoporosis Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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Study Objectives 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. To evaluate the usefulness of peripheral bone scanning techniques in a falls clinic population. 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 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.

Official Title
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Odense Fallers and Osteoporosis Study

Conditions
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Accidental Falls, Osteoporosis, Disability

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| fall clinic population<br>women, aged + 65 years | |
| control fallers<br>randomly selected community aged matched female controls with a fall episode | |
| control non fallers<br>randomly selected community aged matched female controls, with out fall episodes | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Meausered by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) | one year | 
| Health related quality of life | Self Reporting Questionnaire will be used | one year | 
| Perceived need | Self Reporting Questionnaire | one year | 
| Basis mobility | Time up and go, Chair stand, Bergs balance scale, Avlunds scale, gait speed and dual-task will be used | One year | 
| Fear of falling | The Falls Efficacy scale - international will be used | One year | 
| Muscle strength in upper and lower extremities | A dynamometer will be used | One year |