Racial differences in institutionalization after hip fractures: California hospital discharge data.
OBJECTIVE
Hip fractures related to osteoporosis are a major cause of illness leading to institutionalization of elderly patients. Our objective was to determine the ethnic differences and the factors influencing the placement of hip fracture patients in extended-care facilities (ECFs).


METHODS
Secondary data analyses of California Hospital Discharge Data Program (CHDDP).


METHODS
78,576 men and 246,177 women > or = 65 years of age with hip fractures related to osteoporosis were included for the analyses.


METHODS
The main outcome variable was placement in ECFs as opposed to home. Other variables studied were age, gender, ethnicity, cormobid conditions, insurance, and length of stay in the hospital.


RESULTS
Whites and African-American patients with hip fractures were more likely to be placed in ECFs compared to Hispanics. Older age, male gender, presence of two or more comorbid conditions, Medicare insurance, and shorter length of stay in the hospital were also significantly associated with placement in ECFs.


CONCLUSIONS
Future studies should explore sociocultural and other factors that influence ethnic differences in the disposition of hip fracture patients.
Ganesan
Kalpana
K
Division of General Internal Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Pan
Deyu
D
Teklehaimenot
Senait
S
Norris
Keith
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044382:Population Groups; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*