The epidemiology of total hip replacement in The Netherlands and Sweden: present status and future needs

By combining data from the Discharge registers and the census bureaus in The Netherlands and Sweden, we calculated the age-specific incidences of primary total hip replacement (THR), studied the demographic profile of the population receiving THR and predicted demands. In the period 1986-1997, the number of THRs increased by 20% in Sweden to 10,000 operations (113/100,000 inhabitants) and by 68% to 17,400 operations (112/100,000 inhabitants) in The Netherlands. Of this increase 3% and 15% could be explained by changes in the age-profile and size of the population, respectively. Although the overall incidence of THR was similar in both countries in 1997, we found that, after correction for differences in population structure, the incidence of THR was 20% higher in The Netherlands. In Sweden, relatively more men were operated on than in The Netherlands. We also found that in Sweden, but not in the Netherlands, relatively more older people were operated on in 1997 than in 1987. Assuming no further change in the age- and sex-specific arthroplasty rates, the predicted annual number of total hip replacements by the year 2020 will increase by at least one fourth in Sweden and almost one half in The Netherlands.