Weather and hip fractures: A nine-year study across England and Wales

Hip fractures are a leading orthopaedic injury worldwide, often causing disability, cognitive decline, and loss of independence. Identifying early predictors is therefore a major healthcare priority yet the impact of weather on hip fracture incidence remains poorly understood. This study is the first to examine hip fracture admissions in England and Wales in relation to weather. We hypothesised that (a) lower ambient temperatures are associated with increased hip fracture admissions, and (b) the strength of this association differs by age and baseline mobility status.

Weather data from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office and patient data from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) were analysed to investigate associations between weather variables and hip fracture in the period from 2015 to 2023.

A total of 567,623 patients with hip fractures were admitted during the nine year period. Hip fracture admissions dropped by about 10 % on weekends. Mobile individuals aged 60-79 years experienced more hip fractures during cold weather with minimal seasonal variation, while less mobile individuals aged 80-99 years had higher rates of fractures in winter.

The findings highlight trends that inform future strategies to mitigate hip fracture risks and adapt healthcare planning.