Mortality rates of hip fracture patients with non-operative treatment

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Hip fractures are a common and serious injury in the elderly.
• Non-operative management is sometimes chosen for hip fractures, particularly in frail patients.
• High mortality rates are associated with hip fractures, necessitating investigation into contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient mortality rates following non-operative hip fracture treatment.
• To determine the distribution of causes of death in this patient cohort.
• To identify factors influencing mortality in patients treated non-operatively for hip fractures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 93 patients (mean age 86.0 years) treated non-operatively for hip fractures between 2013 and 2019.
• Collection and analysis of survival data, dates, and causes of death.
• Comparison of baseline demographics, functional status (ambulation, mobility scores), and comorbidities (ASA PS) with one-year mortality.

Main Results:

• High mortality rates observed: 40.9% at 3 months, 74.4% at 12 months, and 87.5% at 24 months.
• Respiratory diseases (33.3%) and cardiovascular diseases (13.6%) were the leading causes of death.
• No significant association found between baseline characteristics (age, sex, fracture site, functional status, ASA PS) and one-year mortality.

Conclusions:

• Non-operative treatment of hip fractures is associated with a substantial and high mortality rate.
• Respiratory and cardiovascular conditions are the primary drivers of mortality in this population.
• Further research and interventions are crucial to mitigate mortality and enhance the quality of life for patients with non-operatively treated hip fractures.