title: The economic burden of fracture patients with osteoporosis in western China.
abstract: To study the cost of osteoporotic fracture in China, we performed a prospective study and compared the costs of the disease in referral patients with fractures in three of the most common sites. Our results indicated that the economic burden of osteoporotic fracture to both Chinese patients and the nation is heavy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This paper aims to study the cost of osteoporotic fracture in China and thus to provide essential information about the burden of this disease to individuals and society.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational data collection study assessed the cost related to hip, vertebral, and wrist fracture 1 year after the fracture based on a patient sample consisting of 938 men and women. Information was collected using patient records, registry sources, and patient interviews. Both direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect non-medical costs were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual total costs were highest in hip fracture patients (renminbi, RMB 27,283 or USD 4,330, with confidence interval (RMB 25715, 28851)), followed by patients with vertebral fracture (RMB 21,474 or USD 3,409, with confidence interval (RMB 20082, 22866)) and wrist fracture (RMB 8,828 or USD 1,401, with confidence interval (RMB 7829, 9827)). The direct medical care costs averaged approximately RMB 17,007 per year per patient, of which inpatient costs, drugs, and investigations accounted for the majority of the costs. Nonmedical direct costs were much less compared to direct healthcare costs and averaged approximately RMB 1,846.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the economic burden of osteoporotic fracture to both Chinese patients and China was heavy, and the proportion of the costs in China demonstrated many similar features and some significant differences compared to other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Chengdu Military General Hospital, No. 270, Tianhui Road, Rongdu Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: D-F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: X-M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D017281:Cost of Illness; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents