Many Fear Having a Hip Fracture …

Mortality following the first hip fracture in Norwegian women and men 1999-2008. A NOREPOS study. 

Omsland TK, Emaus N, Tell GS, Magnus JH, Ahmed LA, Holvik K, Center J, Forsmo S, Gjesdal CG, Schei B, Vestergaard P, Eisman JA, Falch JA, Tverdal A, Søgaard AJ, Meyer HE. (Authors in bold from the Department of Global Health and Primary Care, (UiB)).  Bone. 2014 Mar 4.

Some disturbing facts

• Norway has one of the highest hip fracture rates in the world
• Osteoporotic (due to osteoporosis) fractures constitute a major health burden in Western countries.
  • hip fractures are the most serious osteoporotic fractures
  • they often occur late in life
  • they are associated with excess mortality
• Excess mortality associated with hip fracture is higher in men than in women, for all ages
• During the first 3 months post fracture, hip fracture patients have a 5-8-fold increased all-cause mortality
• Mean age at first hip fracture was 81.4 years in women and 78.7 years in men.

Using large data sets to establish important health targets

Three of the paper’s authors are from the Lifestyle Epidemiology Research Group at the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, including first author, Tone Omsland, Grethe Tell and Kristin Holvik. They collaborate with researchers in a national research project entitled NOREPOS (Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies). (Professor Grethe Tell leads the NOREPOS Board).

The researchers have analysed data sources from large Norwegian population-based studies including bone mineral density measurements, blood samples and questionnaires. Among other things, they are trying to determine why Norway has one of the highest incidences of hip fractures in the world.

In this study they determined that between 1999 and 2008, over 80 000 Norwegians aged 50 and older suffered their first hip fracture. The data showed that the mortality following the first hip fracture peaked in the first two weeks following the fracture, and the excess mortality remained as long as 12 years post fracture.

Hip fractures are an important health outcome target

One year after the hip fracture mortality levels were 21 % for women and 33 % for men. Based on these findings the researchers have identified hip fractures as a health outcome in Norway that should be a target for improved prevention and treatment.

Read the article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24607943