Hip fracture among the elderly in a mixed urban and rural population

Among the 27314 people aged 60 years or more living in the northern part of the county of Storstr øm, Denmark, 117 were hospitalized with hip fracture in one year (1978), making an incidence of 4.3 per 1000. All 117 patients were seen soon after their admittance to hospital, and after one year the 86 surviving patients were seen in their homes. A higher death rate was found during the first three months, but only among patients with additional disabling diseases. Among the survivors, the possibility of leading a regular life was found to be only slightly reduced as measured by their activity-level, mobility and state of independence. Thirteen per cent of the survivors were institutionalized. The mean stay in hospital was 66 days, including transfer to a geriatric department in some instances.