Hip and back fractures 'increase risk of death'

Thousands of elderly people are admitted to healthcare facilities each year after suffering hip and back fractures, but the falls they have experienced may actually be increasing their risk of death.

That is the view of Canadian researchers following the publication of the latest research, which suggests that bone breakages of these types increase mortality rates in adults over the age of 50.

Experts at McMaster University worked in collaboration with various institutions across the country and concluded that that approximately one-quarter of men and women who develop hip fractures and 16 per cent of people who suffer spine factures will die over a five-year period.

As fractures of the hip and bone become more common in women when they are older than 45, the researchers say this study is particularly relevant to private health insurance customers in this demographic.

George Ioannidis, a health research methodologist in the Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine, who led the study, said the researchers examined the relationship between new fractures and mortality over a five-year period in more than 7,750 Canadians aged 50 years and older.

Using data from the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study, he said the team found that hip fractures in particular "have long-lasting effects that result in eventual death by signalling or actually inducing a progressive decline in health".

"Our results also showed that vertebral fracture was an independent predictor of death," he commented.

As a hip fracture is the most common form of broken bone in affordable medical insurance customers over 75, Dr Ioannidis said that people "should be aware" that this is also a key factor in osteoperosis.

"They do not just reduce health-related quality of life, they actually cause death. So hip and spinal fractures need be taken very seriously and prevention should be paramount in treating patients with osteoporosis," he stated.

The expert concluded that interventions should be introduced to reduce the likelihood of fractures, such as fall prevention strategies, hip protectors and enhanced rehabilitation procedures to improve mobility and strength.

By Louise Jones

Find out about our Health Insurance Plans. 

Adfero Ltd provides live and tailored breaking industry news for Chartis Direct. All industry news is prepared by Adfero Ltd and as such does not represent the views or opinions of Chartis Direct a trading name of UNAT Direct Insurance Management Limited.

© Adfero Ltd 2008