There is good news for Kaiser Permanente members who are at risk of hip fractures. A new study conducted by Kaiser Permanente has shown that various practical actions can greatly reduce the risk of hip fractures. Although this study was conducted by Kaiser Permanente California, it will help patients from Kaiser Georgia and members all throughout the nation, as well as non-members all over the United States and elsewhere. The researchers found that certain proactive measures can reduce the risk of hip fractures by as much as 50 percent, and on average these measures reduced the risk by 37.2 percent.
This new study, which was recently published by The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, tracked more than 625,000 male and female Southern California patients over the age of 50 with certain risk factors for osteoporosis and/or hip fractures. This unprecedented five-year study found that any of the proactive measures outlined in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Healthy Bones Program were able to reduce the risk of hip fracture well beyond 25 percent. This is great news for the Kaiser Permanente California and Kaiser Georgia members who have already been following this program.
During the course of this study, researchers were able to determine that it is more than possible to reduce the rate of hip fractures in the United States, as long as patients are able to take the necessary proactive measures. And since prevention is already part of the Kaiser Permanente approach, it goes without saying that patients who are part of this healthcare system will have orthopedic surgeons in osteoporosis disease management who take more of an active role.
Osteoporosis can affect anyone at any age, although it is most common in women, especially in the older population. Roughly 25 percent of patients with a hip fracture die in the first year after the incident. But Kaiser Permanente patients who follow the advice of their doctors and take their health into their own hands can prevent this scenario and live stronger and longer.