Hip fractures in older persons in Malta : an epidemiological study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults, and may sometimes be the result of the inability to cope with arising medical problems. The purpose of this study is dual; it is primarily a local epidemiological study of hip fractures in older persons in Malta. The secondary purpose of this study is to identify the number of patients who have had a significant hospital visit in the three months preceding the hip fracture.

METHOD: Data was collected over a period of 6 months from the national general hospital of Malta; Mater Dei Hospital. Patients included were 70 years and older, and sustained a proximal hip fracture.

RESULTS: The incidence of hip fractures in Malta in persons aged 70 and over is 7.29 per 1000 persons per year in females and 4.66 per 1000 persons per year in males. The 1 year mortality rate was found to be 22%. In over one quarter of the cases, there was a significant hospital visit within the 3 months prior to the hip fracture incident, one fifth of whom had a falls related visit.

CONCLUSION: Hip fractures in older persons in Malta resulted in a high mortality rate and rate of admission to care homes. Incidence rate in Malta matched incidence rates in central Europe. While case prevention is still limited, we suggest an age and sex-matched control study to assess the significance of hospital visits occurring prior to hip fractures, in order to guide a direction for case prevention.