Risk of mortality and predisposing factors after osteoporotic hip fracture: a one-year follow-up study

To determine mortality and predisposing factors in patients with fracture of the proximal femur, one year after the initial fracture, in a tertiary hospital in Castile and Leon (Spain).

Observational case-control study. Patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the orthopedic surgery department of the Rio Hortega Hospital, a tertiary care hospital with approximately 560 beds, due to non-traumatic hip fracture between September 2005 and November 2006, were included. An age-matched control group of 81 institutionalized patients with similar characteristics was recruited. A protocolized telephone interview and a review of hospital medical records was made at 12 months followup.

Of the 170 patients recruited, the final analysis was made in 139: 121 (87.1%) women and 18 (12.9%) men. The control group was formed of 81 patients: 64 (79%) women and 17 (21%) men. Mortality was 41.7% in the study group and 2.5% in controls (p; 0.001). Mortality was 31% in month 1, 24.1% between months 2 and 6 and 29.3% between months 6 and 12 (in 15.6% the date of death was unknown). Factors associated with mortality were: age >86 years (p; 0.024); prior cognitive deterioration (p; 0.011); prior locomotor disorder (p; 0.047); male gender (p; 0.017); heart disease (p; 0.042).

Patients with hip fracture, had substantially higher mortality than comparable healthy people, and mortality was highest in the first six months after fracture. Age and prior comorbidities were associated with excess mortality.