Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2012 Sep;81(3):123-6.

Hip fracture in Northern Ireland, 1985-2010. Are age-specific fracture rates still rising?

Paul Turkington  1 , Sinead Mcdonald, James Elliott, Timothy Beringer
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Hip fracture in Northern Ireland, 1985-2010. Are age-specific fracture rates still rising?

Paul Turkington et al. Ulster Med J. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The aims of this study were to review and update previous projections of the number of proximal femoral fractures in the Northern Ireland population and to ascertain if the trend of increasing age-specific fracture incidence was continuing.

Methods: Data from 1985 to 1997 was obtained from hospital theatre records to ascertain the number of surgical procedures for proximal femoral fracture. Data for the years 2005 and 2010 was obtained from Northern Ireland's Fracture Outcomes Research Database (FORD) and locally held records in one region not then using FORD. Demographic details were obtained from data published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Age-specific fracture rates were calculated for males and females in 5 year age brackets and for populations aged 50+ and 65+. Updated projections for the number of proximal femoral fractures by 2020 were made assuming the continuation of the same age-specific fracture rates observed in 2010.

Results: From 1997 to 2010 the age-specific fracture incidence has fallen or plateaued across most observed age and sex subgroups. Over the period 2010 to 2020, male and female fracture numbers are projected to increase by 23% and 21% respectively which equates to approximately 400 extra proximal femoral fractures.

Conclusion: Over the next decade there will be an increasing burden on Northern Irish healthcare resources attributed to a rise in the number of proximal femoral fractures. The age-specific fracture rates in this population are no longer rising and hence the expected increase in healthcare costs is primarily a consequence of the anticipated changing demographic trends.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 4
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. British Orthopaedic Association. The care of patients with fragility fractures. Guideline Ref ID: BOA2007. London: British Orthopaedic Association; 2007. Available online from: http://www.bgs.org.uk/pdf_cms/pubs/Blue%20Book%20on%20fragility%20fractu.... Last accessed May 2012.
    1. Lawrence TM, White CT, Wenn R, Moran CG. The current hospital costs of treating hip fractures. Injury. 2005;36(1):88–91. - PubMed
    1. Parrot S. Health Promotion England. United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry. The economic cost of hip fracture in the UK. York: Office of Health Economics, University of York; 2000. Available online from: http://viewcare.co.uk/Publications/hipfracture.pdf. Last accessed May 2012.
    1. Beringer TR, Wilson RA, Swain D, Patterson CC, Beverland D. Proximal femoral fracture in Northern Ireland between 1985-1997 - trends and future projections. Ulster Med J. 2000;69(2):112–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Nymark T, Lauritsen J, Ovesen O, Rock N, Jeune B. Decreasing incidence of hip fracture in the Funen County, Denmark. Acta Orthop. 2006;77(1):109–13. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources