Survival of aged nursing home residents with hip fracture.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about mortality in nursing home residents with hip fracture. This study examined the effect of pre-fracture characteristics, hospital complications, and post-fracture complications on mortality in residents with hip fracture.


METHODS
This is a retrospective cohort study of 195 long-term care residents (153 women, 42 men) with hip fracture (1999-2006) followed for mortality until June 30, 2007. Pre-fracture characteristics (age, sex, cognition, functional status, comorbidities, body mass index), hospital complications (acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, delirium, infection) and 6-month complications (delirium, pneumonia, pressure ulcer, urinary tract infection [UTI]) were evaluated as potential predictors of mortality.


RESULTS
During a median follow-up of 1.4 years, 150 participants (76.9%) died. Male residents were nearly twice as likely to die compared with female residents (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.0). Other pre-fracture characteristics associated with increased mortality included older age (HR per 5 years = 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6), low functional status (HR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-3.0), anemia (HR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.5), and coronary artery disease (HR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-2.9). Mortality was 70% greater among residents with a pressure ulcer or pneumonia within 6 months of hip fracture (pressure ulcer, HR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.6; pneumonia, HR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7). Individual hospital complications and post-fracture delirium and UTI were not significant predictors of mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to pre-fracture characteristics, potentially modifiable post-fracture complications including pressure ulcer and pneumonia were associated with increased mortality in nursing home residents with hip fracture. Prevention strategies to reduce pressure ulcers and pneumonia may help reduce mortality in this frail population.
Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Sarah D
SD
Berry
Elizabeth J
EJ
Samelson
Malynda
M
Bordes
Kerry
K
Broe
Douglas P
DP
Kiel
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000740:Anemia / Q000401:mortality; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate