Post-fracture pneumonia risk and association with health and survival outcomes for adults with cerebral palsy: A retrospective cohort study
Reviewed by Manjula Manikandan
Citation: Whitney DG, Xu T, Berri M. Post-fracture pneumonia risk and association with health and survival outcomes for adults with cerebral palsy: A retrospective cohort study. Bone. 2022 Jun;159:116390. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2022.116390. Epub 2022 Mar 17. PMID: 35307581; PMCID: PMC9148428.
Study type/Population: 20% random sample of 3688 adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and fracture; 29,429 adults with CP without fracture using US Medicare (fee for service) claims and Optum database, compared to >300,000 adults without CP and fracture. A 30-day incidence of pneumonia post-fracture was studied.
Key findings: The incidence rate of 30-day pneumonia for post fragility (non-trauma) fracture was similar across all ages of CP. The risk of developing pneumonia was higher in adults with CP and fracture, compared to those without CP or fracture. Pneumonia within 30 days of fragility fracture among adults with CP was associated with increased rate of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and death.
Translation to practice: People with CP are at risk of post-fracture pneumonia within 30 days. Complications from pneumonia can be chronic, and can affect people across the lifespan. Post fracture care for adults with CP should include frequent monitoring of cardiorespiratory status, oxygen saturation, chest imaging and regular clinical follow-up.