[Incidence of hip fractures in Cantabria].
BACKGROUND
Fracture of the hip constitutes a serious social/health care problem with very little information concerning incidence in Spain being available.


METHODS
The diagnosis of hospital admissions and the diagnosis of release from the traumatology units of health care centers for acute patients in Cantabria were reviewed. The study was carried out from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 1988 and only included patients over 49 years of age. Patients who did not habitually reside in the region were excluded. The following data were collected in each case: age, sex, place of residence (urban or rural), time of the year, side fractured, type of injury, previous contralateral fracture and perioperative mortality.


RESULTS
The rate of fracture referred to the population of more than 49 years of age was 277/100,000 in the case of females and 100/100,000 for males. The mean age of women was 80.4 +/- 8.5 years and of men was 76.9 +/- 10.9 years (p > 0.02), respectively. No differences were observed with regard to the place of residence or the time of year. The fracture was left sided in 61% of the females and 58% of the males. The injury was almost always due to a fall. Six percent of the patients had a previous contralateral fracture. Perioperative mortality was 6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of hip fracture in Cantabria is similar to that of other regions in Spain and lower to that of parts of central and northern Europe and the United States.
Olmos
J M
JM
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander.
Martínez
J
J
García
J
J
Matorras
P
P
Moreno
J J
JJ
González-Macías
J
J
D000061:Accidents, Home; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Incidencia de fractura de cadera en Cantabria.