Mortality after Sustaining Skeletal Fractures in Relation to Age

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health Epidemiology

Background:

• Fracture-related mortality data is limited, particularly across diverse age groups and anatomical locations.
• Existing research often concentrates on specific patient demographics or injury types, leaving gaps in comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate 30-day and 1-year mortality rates following fractures in four distinct age cohorts.
• To analyze mortality patterns across 27 different fracture locations within these age groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) for 262,598 patients aged 16+ (2012-2018).
• Calculated Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) using age- and gender-specific life tables.
• Stratified analysis by four age groups: 16-49, 50-64, 65-79, and ≥80 years.

Main Results:

• Youngest group (16-49) had <1% and <2% mortality at 30 days and 1 year, respectively.
• Oldest groups (65+) experienced up to 5% 30-day and 25% 1-year mortality for certain fractures.
• Femur and humerus diaphysis fractures showed the highest mortality rates and SMRs across all ages.
• Elderly patients (≥65) had SMRs of ≥2 for 22/27 fracture locations at 30 days.

Conclusions:

• Fracture type and patient age are critical determinants of post-fracture mortality.
• Femur and humerus diaphysis fractures represent high-risk injuries regardless of age.
• The elderly population exhibits a substantially elevated mortality risk following fractures, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.