[Epidemiology of femur fracture and characteristics of hospital care in Lazio].
We aimed at describing the epidemiology of femur fracture in elderly hospitalized for femur fracture in Lazio (Italy), and evaluating the association between patient's and hospital characteristics on in-hospital mortality. We conducted a population- and hospital-based study (Lazio region: 5.233.233 inhabitants) among people 65+ years aged.


METHODS
regional hospital register 2002-2003; ICD-9-CM codes for patients' selection 820 e 821. Direct standardization (rate x 1000) and logistic regression analysis (OR, 95% CI) were performed. Overall hospitalization rate in elderly was 7.5%o (10.l%o females vs. 3.9%0 males). 12.033 patients with femur fractures were enrolled in the study period; 21,6% were not treated surgically: in comparison with those who underwent surgery, they were males, residents out of Rome, older and with worst health status. In-hospital mortality rate was 7,97%. In-hospital mortality determinants were: male gender (OR=0.56), older age (85+, OR=3.30), living out of Rome (OR=0.50), comorbidities (Charlson 'index 3: OR=4.44), "others and unspecified parts of femur" as site of fracture (OR=1.84), admission to a private hospital (OR=O. 79) and a surgical treatment (OR=0.20). In conclusion, this study showed the effect of selected individual characteristics on in hospital mortality and suggested a role of early surgical treatment and access to private sector. Regional hospital information systems represent useful tools to address epidemiological impact of hip fracture and its health care resources utilization.
Sperati
F
F
Facoltutà di Scienze Statistiche, Universittà degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza. sperati@ifo.it
Agabiti
N
N
Picconi
O
O
Pancioni
T
T
Sperati
A
A
Romanini
E
E
Cardo
S
S
Guasticchi
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000401:mortality; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution