The History of Childhood Fractures Could be the Cause of Future Bone Fragility

Highlights:

Prior fracture history is one of the best predictors of future fractures; however, current osteoporosis risk assessment standards exclude childhood injuries
People who broke a bone as children were more than twice as likely to break a bone as adults. This resulted in lower hip bone density in women above the age of 45
Researchers discovered that children who had many fractures were more than twice as likely to fracture as adults. Furthermore, people who were fracture-free as children tended to remain so as adults

Breaking a bone as a child is more than just a rite of passage. It could be a precursor to future fractures and osteoporosis.

Prior fracture history is one of the best predictors of future fractures, yet current criteria for determining osteoporosis risk omit childhood injuries. Researchers from the University of Otago analyzed the history of fractures in a cohort of middle-aged persons participating in the Dunedin Study, a five-decade-long comprehensive longitudinal investigation.

‘There is a 10–25% overall risk of sustaining a fracture during childhood, and the lifetime risk of sustaining a fracture is 27% and 42% for girls and boys, respectively, which can eventually lead to bone fragility and osteoporosis.’

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They discovered that people who fractured a bone more than once as children had more than double the chances of breaking a bone as adults. This resulted in reduced bone density at the hip in women at the age of 45.

The participants in this study were young for studying fracture risk and osteoporosis, but if lifestyle changes to promote bone density can be implemented earlier in life, it may have the greatest influence on lifelong bone health and osteoporosis risk reduction.

Childhood Fractures Predict the Development of Osteoporosis

One in every two children breaks a bone throughout their childhood, with nearly a quarter of boys and 15% of girls experiencing repeated fractures.

However, understanding why certain children break bones repeatedly or whether this predicts adult bone health is still not clear.

Childhood Fractures may Affect Bone Density Later: Study
A new study finds certain childhood fractures may have implications for a kid's long-term bone health.

Children fracture bones for a variety of reasons. Previous research has found that children who fracture reside in poorer households, engage in more rigorous exercise, are overweight or have a high body mass index, have vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intake, and may be subjected to physical abuse.

Children who fracture frequently may have exceptionally brittle bones, be ‘accident-prone,’ or develop bone fractures during sports or physical exercise.

Drugs for Acidity Raises the Risk of Fracture in Children
Researchers of the new study believe their findings have important implications for the care of children taking Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPIs) - especially long-term users.

However, a crucial topic is whether children who break bones experience transitory decreases in bone strength during rapid growth, or if these bone abnormalities persist until adulthood.

The persons investigated were all a part of the one-of-a-kind Dunedin Study, which followed the development of a thousand newborns born in Otepoti, Dunedin, between April 1972 and March 1973.

Risk of Wrist Fractures High in Obese Children
Research says that children considered obese are more likely to suffer a distal radius fracture.

The researchers discovered that both boys and girls who had many fractures as children were more than twice as likely to fracture as adults. Furthermore, individuals who were fracture-free as children tended to remain so as adults ().

Childhood fractures were related to the reduced bone mineral density at the hip later in life in females, but not in males.

To conclude, parents of children who fracture frequently as children should be taught about various methods to prevent persistent skeletal fragility with age.

Reference:

Fracture history in osteoporosis: risk factors and its effect on quality of life - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25667782/)

Source-Medindia