Hip fractures in Italy: 2000-2005 extension study

A total of 507,671 people ≥65 experienced hip fractures between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 94,471 people ≥65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. Most fractures occurred in patients ≥75 (82.9%; n=420,890; +16% across 6 years), particularly in women (78.2%; n=396,967). Introduction: We aimed to analyze incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy over the last 6 years. Methods: We analyzed the national hospitalization and DRG databases concerning fractures occurred in people ≥65 between 2000 and 2005. Results: A total of 507,671 people ≥65 experienced hip fractures across 6 years, resulting in about 120,000 deaths. In year 2005 94,471 people aged ≥65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. The majority of hip fractures occurred in patients ≥75 (82.9%; n=420,890; +16% across 6 years) and particularly in women (78.2%; n=396,967). Among women, 84.2% of fractures (n=334,223; +28.0% over 6 years) were experienced by patients ≥75, which is known to be the age group with the highest prevalence of osteoporosis, accounting for 68.6% of the overall observed increase in the total number of fractures. Hip fractures in men ≥75 increased by 33.1% (up to 16,540). Hospitalization costs increased across the six examined years (+36.1%) reaching 467 million euros in 2005, while rehabilitation costs rose up to 531 million in the same year. Conclusions: Hip fractures of the elderly are increasing and represent a major health problem in industrialized countries such as Italy.