Men with hip fractures have poorer nutritional status and survival than women: a prospective study of 165 patients.
BACKGROUND
Many hip fracture patients have a poor nutritional status which may be one explanation for their increased mortality.


METHODS
We studied nutritional status and other mortality-related factors prospectively in 165 patients with hip fractures (85 women). We concentrated on differences between death rates and survival rates at 3 months and at 1 year, and between those patients who died within 3 months and those who died later.


RESULTS
In general, men had a poorer nutritional status and a larger number of comorbidities. Also, there were more smokers and alcohol abusers amongst the men. Of the patients who died during the first 3 months, most were men, and their initial nutritional status was poorer than that of women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a correlation between mortality and total serum protein, retinol binding protein and the number of comorbidities. Among patients who died after 3 months, mortality was associated with the number of comorbidities and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher mortality rate in men than in women after hip fracture may in part be explained by the poor nutritional status in men.
Carpintero
Pedro
P
Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Reina Sofia, Avenue Menendez Pidal S/N, ES-14 004 Cordoba, Spain. pcarpinterob@medynet.com
Lopez
Pedro
P
Leon
Francisco
F
Lluch
Mercedes
M
Montero
Manuel
M
Aguilera
Cristobal
C
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate