Aim: While evidence that suggests fractures are associated with increased mortality and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), it is unknown if these outcomes are correlated. This study aimed to determine whether recovery of HRQoL 12-months post-fracture is associated with lower 5-year all-cause mortality.
Methods: This prospective study included 524 older adults (mean age: 70.2 years; % female: 79.2) with a fracture (150 hip, 261 wrist, 61 vertebral, 52 humerus) recruited from eight study centers across Australia. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-3L at baseline (including recall of HRQoL prior to fracture) and at 12-months post-fracture. HRQoL recovery was calculated as the difference between EQ-5D-3L utility scores at pre-fracture and 12-months. All-cause mortality was ascertained through linkage with the Australian National Death Index. Overall survival was compared between the two HRQoL groups (recovered vs. not recovered) using a two-sided log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between mortality and HRQoL recovery.
Results: Overall, 279 participants (53.2%) recovered to their pre-fracture HRQoL at 12-month follow-up and there were 70 deaths (13.4%) during the 5-years post-fracture. Mortality rate was highest in hip fracture participants (24.7%), followed by vertebral (16.4%), humeral (13.5%) and wrist fracture participants (6.1%). After adjustment for age, sex, pre-fracture HRQoL, and skeletal site of the fracture, mortality risk was lower in participants who recovered their pre-fracture HRQoL at 12-months compared to those who did not (HR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.96, p=0.034; see figure).
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that HRQoL recovery post-fracture is associated with improved long-term survival in older adults, and also highlights important contributions of a variety of factors that predict long-term mortality post-fracture. Current post-fracture interventions known to improve HRQoL may have the potential to prevent deaths in older adults following fragility fracture.