Spain makes significant progress in boosting osteoporosis treatment rates post-hip fracture
Spain has made significant progress in secondary fracture prevention among patients who have suffered a hip fracture, according to new data from the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (SNHFR) presented in a new study "Temporal trends in osteoprotective treatment after hip fracture in Spain: data from the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (2017–2024)". Between 2017 and 2024, the proportion of patients receiving osteoporosis treatment within one month of a hip fracture increased from 40% to 58.5% — a positive indication of treatments becoming more available within the country.
The study based on nearly 59,000 older adults treated in hospitals participating in the SNHFR, suggests that greater awareness of osteoporosis, quality improvement initiatives, orthogeriatric care models, and the growing implementation of fracture prevention pathways are translating into better post-fracture care. The increase was driven mainly by wider use of antiresorptive therapies, while calcium and vitamin D supplementation also became more common.
Co-author Professor José M. Cancio-Trujillo, Medical Director of Intermediate Care, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain, and Capture the Fracture® mentor noted: “Frailer patients, those with cognitive impairment, and nursing-home residents are still less likely to receive treatment, and, despite guideline recommendations, the use of osteoanabolic therapies remains limited for some very high-risk patients. Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate a clear national trend toward improved osteoporosis management after hip fracture and highlight the value of registry-based quality improvement efforts.”
Overall, Spain has made significant progress in the management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. This is reflected in the remarkable growth of Spanish Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) within the CTF network, which has doubled over the past five years to reach 116 services nationwide. In addition, the Spanish Society for Bone and Mineral Metabolism (SEIOMM) has published updated clinical guidelines, providing healthcare professionals with the latest evidence-based recommendations. The national Platform for the Prevention of Osteoporosis Fractures (PFO) has also issued a manifesto calling for osteoporotic fractures to be recognized as a priority within Spain’s healthcare policies and strategies.
While considerable work remains to ensure that patients at very high risk of fracture are systematically identified and receive appropriate treatment, the overall trajectory is encouraging and sets the stage for continued progress on behalf of fragility fracture patients.
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Reference:
Cuadra-Llopart, L., González-Villaumbrosia, C., Cancio-Trujillo, J.M. et al. Temporal trends in osteoprotective treatment after hip fracture in Spain: data from the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (2017–2024). Arch Osteoporos 21, 60 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-026-01694-w