Clinical and health-economic impact of orthogeriatric care models in Belgium: A population-based data registry study
Authors' conclusion
Integrated care on a surgical ward reduced ED visits without compromising outcomes. While consultation on request on a geriatric ward showed the highest survival time at similar cost, absolute differences were minimal, thereby emphasizing the overall health-economic comparability across models.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥ 75 years admitted with hip, pelvis, wrist, shoulder or vertebral fractures in 2019, Belgium
- Participants
- 8,302 patients60 hospitals
- Exposure
- Systematic collaboration (systematic consultation or integrated care) between surgical and geriatric teams vs consultation on request, on surgical or geriatric wards
- Outcome
- 1-year mortality
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailsmulticentre (60 hospitals), cost-effectiveness analysis
- Multicentre (60 hospitals)
- Cost-effectiveness analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Mortality similar across models
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| LOS | Consultation on request, surgical ward 10 days · Consultation on request, geriatric ward 12 days · Integrated care, surgical ward 11 days |
| ED visits · 30 and 90 days | Integrated care, surgical ward 5.9% · ED visits at 90 days 11.0% |
| Total direct costs within one year | Integrated care, geriatric ward €18,726 |
- Total direct costs within one year — Costs mostly comparable across other models
- €16,445-€17,829
- Emergency department (ED) visits: 5.9% at 30 days
Length of stay (LOS)
- LOS shortest for these three models
ED visits · 30 and 90 days
- Lowest for integrated care on a surgical ward
1-year survival time
- Highest for consultation on request on a geriatric ward
Institutionalization and unplanned readmissions
- Similar across models
Original publication
Clinical and health-economic impact of orthogeriatric care models in Belgium: A population-based data registry study. Osteoporos Int. Published 14 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →