Hip fractures in Italy: 2000-2005 extension study.
CONCLUSIONS
A total of 507,671 people > or =65 experienced hip fractures between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 94,471 people > or =65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. Most fractures occurred in patients > or =75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years), particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967).


BACKGROUND
We aimed to analyze incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy over the last 6 years.


METHODS
We analyzed the national hospitalization and DRG databases concerning fractures occurred in people > or =65 between 2000 and 2005.


RESULTS
A total of 507,671 people > or =65 experienced hip fractures across 6 years, resulting in about 120,000 deaths. In year 2005 94,471 people aged > or =65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. The majority of hip fractures occurred in patients > or =75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years) and particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967). Among women, 84.2% of fractures (n = 334,223; +28.0% over 6 years) were experienced by patients > or =75, which is known to be the age group with the highest prevalence of osteoporosis, accounting for 68.6% of the overall observed increase in the total number of fractures. Hip fractures in men > or =75 increased by 33.1% (up to 16,540). Hospitalization costs increased across the six examined years (+36.1%) reaching 467 million euros in 2005, while rehabilitation costs rose up to 531 million in the same year.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip fractures of the elderly are increasing and represent a major health problem in industrialized countries such as Italy.
Piscitelli
P
P
University of Florence, Florence, Italy. prisco.piscitelli@tiscali.it
Gimigliano
F
F
Gatto
S
S
Marinelli
A
A
Gimigliano
A
A
Marinelli
P
P
Chitano
G
G
Greco
M
M
Di Paola
L
L
Sbenaglia
E
E
Benvenuto
M
M
Muratore
M
M
Quarta
E
E
Calcagnile
F
F
Colì
G
G
Borgia
O
O
Forcina
B
B
Fitto
F
F
Giordano
A
A
Distante
A
A
Rossini
M
M
Angeli
A
A
Migliore
A
A
Guglielmi
G
G
Guida
G
G
Brandi
M L
ML
Gimigliano
R
R
Iolascon
G
G
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017678:Sex Distribution