Efficacy of a specially designed hip protector for hip fracture prevention and compliance with use in elderly Hong Kong Chinese.
BACKGROUND
Hip protectors, while effective in prevention of hip fractures, have been designed for a Caucasian body build and may not be suitable for Asian subjects living in a subtropical climate.


OBJECTIVE
Hip protectors and accompanying shorts were specially designed for use for the Chinese body build and subtropical climate, and tested for compliance and efficacy in fracture prevention.


METHODS
A pragmatic study examining compliance with the wearing of hip protectors, and effectiveness in preventing hip fractures (using a case control design), in 302 subjects wearing hip protectors and 352 control subjects.


RESULTS
Overall compliance varied from 55 to 70%. The relative risk for hip fracture was 0.18 (0.04-0.79), relative risk reduction 82%, and the number of subjects needing to wear a hip protector to prevent one fracture was 33 (19-117).


CONCLUSIONS
Hip protectors adapted for use in Chinese people appear to reduce hip fractures in routine clinical practice.
Woo
J
J
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong. jeanwoowong@cuhk.edu.hk
Sum
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Yiu
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Chung
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Ho
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D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000208:ethnology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003020:Clothing; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011482:Protective Devices; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires