[Factors associated with mortality and gait impairment in elderly patients with hip fractures]

Hip fractures are a major source of mortality and morbidity among the elderly. The aim of the present study is to try to identify predictors of death and of non-deambulation during the period of acute treatment.

Consecutive prospective study of 459 patients older than 65 years admitted to our hospital with acute proximal femoral fractures with 12 months follow-up.

The mean length of hospital stay was 26.6 days, it exists a highly percentage of non-ambulatory patients at discharge from hospital (44.3%), a low percentage of mortality in the immediate postoperative period (6.1%) and a larger percentage of mortality at 6 months (26.15%). Factors associated with risk of death at hospital are male sex (OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.04-5.47), deteriorated mental status (OR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.01-6.76) and no previous personal independence (OR = 3.16; 95% CI = 1.19-8.38). Age over 80 years (OR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.43-3.60), deteriorated mental status (OR = 7.90; 95% CI = 3.83-16.3), no walking ability before fracture (OR = 3.72; 95% CI = 2.33-5.91) and type of fracture (OR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.15-2.95) are shown as the determinants of gait capacity.

Mortality in the immediate postoperative period is associated with sex, dementia and previous personal independence. The hospital stay is extended and functional recovery at discharge is low, therefore, new programs for these patients should be considered.