Hip fracture in Italy: analysis of DRG data

Hip fractures are associated with a high rate of mortality, especially in the elderly, and have high social and economic burdens. The impact of femoral fractures is of particular importance in countries like Italy, with a progressively aging population. In Italy, over 120,000 surgical hip interventions were performed in 2002; of these, more than 72,000 were directly attributable to femoral fractures. Between 1999 and 2002, the number of operations for femoral fractures increased by 7.1%, and each year saw a predominance of women and elderly people, in line with the increased prevalence of osteoporosis. According to the data the prevalence of hip fractures is increasing in Italy, and women and the elderly are the most affected. We urgently need primary prevention programs to sensitize the population to the risks of osteoporotic fractures and to reduce its incidence, especially in high-risk subjects.