Socioeconomic and clinical risk factors of hip fracture among the elderly: a case-control study

Abstract

Background/Aims The aim of the study was to investigate the socioeconomic and clinical risk factors for hip fracture among a community-dwelling elderly population in Greece. It also aimed to identify characteristics associated with reducing mobility. Methods A case-control study was conducted on 202 patients who had a hip fracture and on 202 other members of the elderly population who did not have a hip fracture as the control group. Results In the multivariate analysis, the variables related to an increased risk of hip fracture were: gender (odds ration [OR]=10.88; 95%confidence Interval [CI]=2.28–51.98), income (OR=32.50; 95%CI=2.96–356.43), income adequacy (OR=129,34; 95%CI=7,09–2360,88), inability to pay expenses/medication (OR=0.02; 95%CI=0.003–0.09), depression (OR=0.03; 95%CI=0.002–0.35), multimorbidity (OR=0.01; 95%CI=0.001–0.97), number of medication (OR=0.02; 95%CI=0.001–0.28) and history of falls (OR=0.08; 95%CI=0.01–0.40). Factors related to deterioration of mobility were: age (OR=28.43; 95%CI:5.45–148.32), dementia (OR=15.60; 95%CI:1.80–135.27), walking ability (OR=0.20; 95%CI:0.07–0.56), balance (OR=9.10; 95%CI:1.89–43.75), use of walking aid (OR=7.42; 95%CI:2.70–20.39), and length of hospitalisation (OR=3.01; 95%CI:1.27–7.14). Conclusions Socioeconomic and clinical factors that lead to an increased risk of hip fracture were identified, as well as factors affecting post-operative functional ability that could guide prevention programmes.