Seasonal variation in the incidence of hip fractures in Emilia-Romagna and Parma.
Though some reports suggest the existence of seasonal changes in hip fracture incidence, with a peak in winter months, other investigations have failed to confirm this finding. In this study we present data on the month-to-month variability of hip fractures in Emilia-Romagna, a region of Northern Italy with a population of approximately four million inhabitants, and in Parma, a province of Emilia-Romagna (population of approximately 400,000). Data on cervical and trochanteric fractures were obtained from two sources: a) records of all operative procedures in the five orthopaedic centres serving the area of the Parma province; and b) a computerised database of all hospital discharges from public and private hospitals of Emilia-Romagna. In both cases, the analysis gave similar results, with no evidence of a consistent seasonal pattern in hip fracture rates.
Pedrazzoni
M
M
Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale, University of Parma, Italy.
Alfano
F S
FS
Malvi
C
C
Ostanello
F
F
Passeri
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors