Is physical activity protective against hip fracture in frail older people?
BACKGROUND
there is limited evidence of a protective effect of physical activity in preventing hip fractures among older people living in institutions and in those aged 80 or over.


OBJECTIVE
to examine the relationship between physical activity and risk of hip fracture in frail older people.


METHODS
a case-control study.


METHODS
Auckland, New Zealand.


METHODS
a random sample of individuals hospitalized with a fracture of the femoral neck (n=911) and 910 randomly selected age- and sex-matched individuals from the lists of a random sample of general practitioners.


METHODS
we sought information on physical activity and other potential risk factors for hip fracture from cases and controls, using a standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire. We conducted multivariate analyses, separately for those living in private homes and residential institutions.


RESULTS
increasing hours of physical activity per week protected against the risk of hip fracture among individuals living in private homes, including those who are over 80. However, among individuals living in institutions, physical activity levels were extremely low (<15% participated in >/=2 h per week) and there was limited evidence of a protective effect.


CONCLUSIONS
efforts to prevent hip fractures in individuals living in care homes and institutions should focus on passive interventions which are known to be effective.
Norton
R
R
Institute for International Health, University of Sydney, PO Box 576, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia. r.norton@iih.usyd.edu.au
Galgali
G
G
Campbell
A J
AJ
Reid
I R
IR
Robinson
E
E
Butler
M
M
Gray
H
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires