Implications for practice and research

• Adults are at imminent risk of fall after an index fracture, with a time-dependent risk pattern that is similar to the imminent risk of subsequent fractures and death.

• Fall risk assessment is recommended in adults aged ≥50 who have experienced a fracture because early prevention strategies can reduce the risk of new falls, fractures and mortality.

Context

Imminent fall risk can be defined similarly to imminent fracture risk, that is, a 12-month or 24-month increased risk after the index event, which declines over time.1

This study by Schene and colleagues compares the fall risk of a large cohort of adults who experienced a fracture with fracture-free matched controls, to assess whether fall risk after the index fracture is time-dependent.2