What Are the Barriers to Incorporating Nutrition Interventions Into Care of Older Adults With Femoral Fragility Fractures?

Abstract

Femoral fragility fractures cause substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults. Mortality has generally been approximated between 10-20% in the first year after fracture and among those who do survive, another 20-60% require assistance with basic activities within 1-2 years following fracture.¹ Malnutrition is common and perpetuates these poor outcomes. Nutrition supplementation has potential to prevent post-injury malnutrition, preserve functional muscle mass, and improve outcomes in older adults with femoral fragility fractures, however high-quality evidence is lacking, thus limiting translation of interventions into clinical practice. This review article is designed to highlight gaps in the evidence investigating nutrition interventions in this population and identify barriers for translation to clinical practice. Our goal is to guide future nutrition intervention research in older adults with femoral fragility fractures. Level of Evidence: V.

Keywords: femoral fragility fracture; hip fracture; malnutrition; muscle; nutrition; nutrition supplementation; osteoporosis; osteosarcopenia; physical function; protein; sarcopenia.