Which statement about assessing fracture risk in older adults is true?

• A. Age does not influence risk
• B. Older age increases fracture risk and prompts emphasis on BMD, secondary causes, fall risk, and comorbidity management
• C. Fracture risk assessment is only needed after a hip fracture
• D. Vitamin D sufficiency eliminates risk

Answer: (B)

Fracture risk in older adults is multifactorial and increases with age. As people get older, bone density tends to decline and balance or gait often worsens, so the chance of a fracture rises unless preventive steps are taken. A comprehensive risk assessment goes beyond just bone density. It emphasizes evaluating bone mineral density to gauge osteoporosis, but also looks for secondary causes of osteoporosis that may be driving bone loss (such as medications like corticosteroids, endocrine disorders, or nutritional issues). It also incorporates fall risk assessment—seeing how likely a person is to fall and how a fall could lead to a fracture—and considers comorbid conditions and their treatments, since these can worsen bone health or increase fracture likelihood.

This approach is why the statement that older age increases fracture risk and prompts emphasis on BMD, secondary causes, fall risk, and comorbidity management is the best fit. Vitamin D sufficiency helps support bone health but does not on its own eliminate fracture risk, because risk is influenced by multiple factors, not just vitamin D status. And fracture risk assessment is valuable for older adults even before any fracture occurs, not only after one happens.