Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: prevention of hip fractures in the elderly

Hip fracture is a common, morbid, and costly health problem. Because our population is aging, hip fractures will remain a major health concern as we enter the next century. It has been estimated that by the year 2040, 512,000 hip fractures will occur annually in people 50 years or older. A number of factors common in the elderly increase the risk of falling. Falls and age-related changes that influence bone quality increase susceptibility to fracture. In this article, the author focuses on studies that identified risk factors and strategies to reduce falls as well as pharmacologic agents that may reduce fracture risk. Because of the multifactorial etiology of hip fractures, their prevention will ultimately require a combination of pharmacologic approaches to improve bone strength and strategies to prevent falls and limit injury.