The accuracy of self-reported fractures in older people

• Published in: Journal of clinical epidemiology Vol. 55; no. 5; pp. 452 - 457
• Main Authors: Ivers, Rebecca Q, Cumming, Robert G, Mitchell, Paul, Peduto, Anthony J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Female; Fractures; Fractures, Spontaneous - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Spontaneous - epidemiology; Fractures, Spontaneous - etiology; Humans; Male; Medical Records; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; New South Wales - epidemiology; Osteoporosis - complications; Osteoporosis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporosis - epidemiology; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Questionnaires; Radiography; Reproducibility of Results; Self Disclosure; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; False negative reactions; Fractures; False positive reactions; Questionnaires; Medical records; Sensitivity and specificity; Aged; Reproducibility of results; Human; Osteoporosis; Accuracy; Questionnaire; Follow up study; Reproducibility; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Bone disease; Medical record; Fracture; Trauma; Elderly
• ISSN: 0895-4356; 1878-5921
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-4356(01)00518-2

Self-report is often used in large-scale studies. Therefore, it is important to determine the accuracy of self-report. In the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a population-based study of 3,654 older, community-dwelling Australians, subjects were asked about fracture history at the 5-year follow-up interview. All reported non-rib and vertebral fractures were radiologically confirmed. Hospital radiology records were searched for fracture records of people who reported no fractures in the 5-year period. Of 2,326 subjects who came to the interview, 272 subjects reported 318 fractures sustained since 1990. Overall, 34.6% of fracture reports could not be confirmed, mainly due to no record of treatment. Among self-reported fractures, false positive rates were 10.7% for all fractures and 4.8% for hip, 2.2% for wrist, 19.4% for ankle, and 6.6% for shoulder fractures. Sensitivity and specificity of fracture reports was high, with the lowest sensitivity for shoulder fractures (82.4%). Self-report of major osteoporotic fractures is reasonably accurate but may be improved by obtaining more details about treatment.