title: Epidemiology of hip fractures in Lebanon: a nationwide survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hip fractures are a reliable indicator of osteoporosis. Despite their importance, few studies have assessed their epidemiology in Lebanon and the Middle East.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Hip fracture incidence rates in Lebanon approximate those of Northern countries, and show the same characteristics, particularly the exponential increase with age, higher incidence in women, and a recent trend of rate leveling in women but not in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national database of hip fracture cases admitted to hospitals in Lebanon in 2007 was created. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated at 5-year intervals for individuals over age 50. These rates were also standardized to the 2000 United States population, and compared to those of other countries. Projected incidence rates in Lebanon in 2020 and 2050 were also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1199 patients were included in the study. The crude annual incidence rate in individuals over 50 was 147 per 100,000 individuals, 132 per 100,000 males and 160 per 100,000 females, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.2. The age-standardized annual incidence rates (per 100,000) were 180 in males and 256 in females. Assuming unchanged healthcare parameters, the projected crude incidence rates for people over 50 are expected to reach 174 and 284 per 100,000 in 2020 and 2050 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lebanese hip fracture rates are lower than Northern countries, but show many similar characteristics such as an exponential increase with age, a higher incidence in women, and clues of a leveling of rates in women but not in men. Numbers are expected to increase substantially in the coming decades.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV. Epidemiological study.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Department, Bellevue University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Mansourieh, Lebanon.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bachour
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hlais
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maalouf
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yazbeck
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaghi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaghi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Hage
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Issa
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Epidemiology; Hip fracture; Incidence; Lebanon