Health-related quality of life in men with fractures and fear of falling in general population: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to assess how fractures and fear of falling affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men (≥50 years) across different domains. Methods: Design: Observational study. Setting: Primary care. Subjects: 237 men aged 50-90 years. Outcome measures: Age, frac-tures, fear of falling, EQ-5D. Results: A total of 122 men (51.47% of the male cohort) participated, the mean age was 69 ± 5 (≥65-74 years 26.2%, ≥75-84 years 21.3%, ≥85 years 9.8%). Poorer EQ-5D scores were observed in men ≥ 65 years with fractures in the pain domain (p = 0.04), while men < 65 showed better scores in mobility (p = 0.04), self-care (p = 0.04), daily activities (p = 0.04), and anxiety/depression (p = 0.01). Fear of falling significantly impacted HRQoL across all ages, with men ≥ 65 reporting worse mobility (p = 0.02) and higher anxiety/depression (p = 0.01), while men < 65 experienced less pain (p = 0.00). Conclusions: This study shows a relationship between frac-tures, fear of falling, and the perception of the various dimensions of HRQoL in older men. It highlights the need for targeted interventions and follow-up systems to monitor recovery and address fears of falling in men aged 65 and above post-fracture.