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Background: There has been little exploration of the effect of fragility fractures on patient perceptions of their age. The common assumption is that fractures "happen to old people". In individuals with a fragility fracture, our objective was to explore the experience of feeling old after sustaining a fragility fracture. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from 145 community-dwelling women and men participating in six qualitative primary studies was conducted relying on a phenomenological approach. Participants were English-speaking, 45 years and older, who had sustained a recent fragility fracture or reported a history of previous fragility fractures. Data for the analysis included direct statements about feeling old as well any discussions relevant to age post-fracture. Results: We highlight two interpretations based on how individuals with a history of fragility fracture talked about age: (1) Participants described feeling old post-fracture. Several participants made explicit statements about being "old". However, the majority of participants discussed experiences post-fracture that implied that they felt old and had resigned themselves to being old. This appeared to entail a shift in thinking and perception of self that was permanent and had become a part of their identity; and (2) Perceptions of increasing age after sustaining a fracture were reinforced by health care providers, family, and friends. Conclusions: Our findings challenge the notion that fractures "happen to old people" and suggest that fractures can make people feel old. Careful consideration of how bone health messages are communicated to patients post-fracture by health care providers is warranted. (Word Count: 248) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compromised bone health is often associated with depression and chronic pain. Objective: To examine: (1) the experience of existing depression and chronic nonfracture pain in patients with a fragility fracture; and (2) the effects of the fracture on depression and pain. Design: A phenomenological study guided by Giorgi's analytical procedures. Setting and Participants: Fracture patients who reported taking prescription medication for one or more comorbidities, excluding compromised bone health. Main Variables Studied: Patients were interviewed within 6 weeks of their fracture, and 1 year later. Interview questions addressed the recent fracture and patients' experience with bone health and their other health conditions, such as depression and chronic pain, including the medications taken for these conditions. Results: Twenty‐six patients (5 men, 21 women) aged 45–84 years old with hip (n = 5) and nonhip (n = 21) fractures were recruited. Twenty‐one participants reported depression and/or chronic nonfracture pain, of which seven reported having both depression and chronic pain. Two themes were consistent, based on our analysis: (1) depression and chronic pain overshadowed attention to bone health; and (2) the fracture exacerbated reported experiences of existing depression and chronic pain. Conclusion: Experiences with depression and pain take priority over bone health and may worsen as a result of the fracture. Health care providers treating fragility fractures might ask patients about depression and pain and take appropriate steps to address patients' more general emotional and physical state. Patient Contribution: A patient representative was involved in the study conception, data interpretation and manuscript writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]