Gender differences in functioning after hip fracture.
BACKGROUND
Hip fracture is a significant health problem for men and women; between 25 and 30 percent of all hip fractures are sustained by men. Relatively little is known about gender differences in functional outcomes after hip fracture. The purpose of the current study is to compare post-hip fracture functional recovery of men and women.


METHODS
A sample of 674 patients age 65 or older were recruited as part of the Baltimore Hip Studies and were followed longitudinally for 1 year following fracture. Information on prefracture status and hospital course of treatment was collected as well as functional data at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 months postfracture. Data were analyzed longitudinally using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs).


RESULTS
Men in the study were generally younger and suffered greater comorbidity at time of fracture. Men further suffered higher mortality in the year following fracture. Among survivors, little difference between men and women was seen in patterns of recovery of function following fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip fracture is not a problem affecting just women. Recovery following fracture for men is probably no better than that for women, even after mortality differentially eliminates the frailest male participants. However, psychosocial factors, greater comorbidity, and higher rates of certain complications among men may require adjustments to interventions designed to restore function. Further research into the consequences of hip fracture for men and women is needed.
Hawkes
William G
WG
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, 660 W. Redwood Street, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. whawkes@epi.umaryland.edu
Wehren
Lois
L
Orwig
Denise
D
Hebel
J Richard
JR
Magaziner
Jay
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors