Rate of characteristics for osteoporotic fractures in the elderly population of Kaunas region, Lithuania.

Abstract

Osteoporosis related with age is a well known problem in many Western countries. First investigations on osteoporosis in Lithuania were started few years ago. We investigated the rate of characteristic for osteoporosis fractures according to Kaunas Red Cross Hospital regional Traumatology department data. We have studied all cases of inpatients and outpatients over 65, who had Colles', hip or vertebral fracture, as this department serves for all Kaunas region, (580000 inhabitants: 17000 male and 35500 female over 65). The rate of fractures was counted per 1000 inhabitants over 65, comparing 1991 and 1993. We found, that about 1.65/1000 of men and 7.52/1000 of women had Colles' fracture in 1991, when the rate in 1993 accordingly was 1.60/1000 and 10.56/1000. The greater increase in rate we noticed studying cases of hip fractures: 1.60/1000 of men and 3.09/1000 of women in 1991, when 4.70/1000 of men and 6.76/1000 of women in 1993. We did not noticed a significant increase in vertebral fractures comparing number of inpatients in 1991 and 1993: 0.64/1000 of men and 0.59/1000 of women in 1991 and 0.65/1000 in 1993 of both sexes. We did notice the important role of falls to fracture rate, as increase of hip and Colles' fractures increased more than 2 times in winter season. Evaluating our data, we make a conclusion, that the rate of osteoporotic fractures increased comparing 1991 and 1993: Colles' fracture- 1,5 times and hip fracture 2 times in women group, when in men's group Colles' fracture rate did not change significantly and hip fracture increased 2,9 times. The growing number of fracture's rate in population over 65 shows, that problem of involutional bone disorders exists in Lithuania also.