Inpatient hip fractures: understanding and addressing the risk of this common injury

The impact and outcome of hip fractures are well described for people living in the community, but inpatient hip fracture (IHF) have not been extensively studied. In this study, we examine the patient characteristics, common falls risk factors and clinical outcomes of this condition.

Between January 2016 and December 2017, we analysed all inpatient falls that resulted in hip fracture within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) in Wales.

The overall falls rate was 8.7/1000 occupied bed days (OBD). Over the 2 years, 118 patients sustained an IHF, giving a rate of 0.12/1000 OBD. The mean age was 81.8 ± 9.5 (range 49-97) years and 60% were women. Most patients (n = 112) were admitted from their own home. Mean Charlson Comorbidity Index and the number of medications on admission were 5.5 ± 1.9 and 8.5 ± 3.7, respectively.Fifty-three patients (45%) sustained the IHF following their first inpatient fall. Twenty-four IHF (20%) occurred within 72 h. Mean length of stay was 84.9 ± 55.8 days. Only 43% were discharged back to their original place of residence following an IHF; 27% were discharged to a care home (26 new care home discharges), and 30% died as an inpatient. One-year mortality was 54% (n = 64/118). The most common comorbidity was dementia (63%).

Mortality and need for care home placement are both much higher after IHF than following community hip fracture. Most people who suffer a hip fracture in hospital have already demonstrated their need for falls risk management by having fallen previously during the same admission.