Hip fracture rates in Hong Kong and the United States, 1988 through 1989

Prior studies have suggested that hip fracture rates are substantially lower in Asian countries than in the United States. However, comparisons have been limited by unavailability of recent data, differences in case definition, lack of data from similar time periods, and small sample sizes. This study sought to examine trends by age and sex, with separate statistics for those aged 85 or older.

Hospital discharge data were used to obtain hip fracture incidence in Hong Kong and the United States from 1988 through 1989.

Within each population, women had higher hip fracture rates than men. Fracture rates in the United States were significantly higher for both sexes than rates in Hong Kong. For persons over the age of 80, rates of hip fracture among White US males exceeded those for Hong Kong women. Inclusion of transferred cases in hip fracture rates minimized differences between the countries.

Despite increasing hip fracture rates in Hong Kong, those rates are still substantially lower than the rates in the United States. Identifying factors responsible for this variation may prove useful in the search for preventive strategies.