title: The relationship between social deprivation and the incidence of adult fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social deprivation is associated with many diseases. To our knowledge, there has been no previous investigation of its role in the epidemiology and incidence of fractures in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 6872 consecutive fractures in patients fifteen years of age or older over a one-year period. Social deprivation was analyzed using the Carstairs score, which is derived from patients' postal codes and accurately defines social deprivation in our population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social deprivation is associated with an increasing fracture incidence. The effect is not linear, and the most deprived 10% of society are affected. The odds ratios of the most deprived 10% of society having an increased incidence of fractures are 3.7 in males and 3.1 in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social deprivation is associated with a significant increase in the incidence of fractures in the most deprived 10% of the population. Most fracture types are affected.
authors.affiliation: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SU, Scotland. courtbrown@aol.com
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Court-Brown
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Duckworth
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McQueen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult