Hip fracture in Malmö over three decades

The incidence of hip fracture in the city of Malmö, Sweden, has increased from the 1950s to the 1980s, a trend also seen in other industrialised cities. The population of Malmö was studied during the 1980s and compared with that during the 1950s, as described by Alffram (1964). Marked changes were seen in the social structure and the percentage of elderly in the city of Malmö, and there was evidence that a more sedentary life-style is led today. The degree of trauma is less today than it was 30 years ago, and there is a higher proportion of displaced cervical hip fractures. The mean age of men and women with both cervical and trochanteric fractures in Malmö increased during the 30-year period, and today more patients are seen who have had a previous fragility fracture and the rates of co-morbidity are higher.