title: Short-term relationship between hip fracture and weather conditions in two Spanish health areas with different climates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate differences in the short-term relationship between weather conditions and the incidence of hip fracture in people aged 65 and over among two regions of Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hip fracture incidence was calculated for the years 2000-2008 for residents of Health Area 14 in Valencian Community (Mediterranean climate) and the "Mancha Centro" Health Area in Castilla-La Mancha (inland climate), Spain. The relationship between hip fracture incidence and weather was analyzed with a case-crossover design and explored in subgroups defined by sex, age, and fracture type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the inland area, a positive and significant tendency for hip fracture incidence was observed (annual increase: 1.5%) whereas in the Mediterranean area a seasonal increase of 9% was noted in autumn and winter with respect to spring. Weather conditions, especially wind, were significantly associated with hip fracture incidence: days with more frequent windy periods and/or a greater wind velocity were associated with an increase in hip fracture incidence of 51% in the Mediterranean area and 44% in the inland area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hip fracture incidence exhibits seasonal changes that differ between the Mediterranean and inland areas. The short-term relationship with climate, although similar in both areas, may partly explain these seasonal changes.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Docente de Atencion Familiar y Comunitaria, Valencian School for Health Studies (EVES), 46017 Valencia, Spain ; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain ; University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tenías
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain ; Center for Research on Public Health (CSISP), 46020 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Estarlich
authors.affiliation: Service of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Hospital La Mancha Centro, 13600 Alcazar de San Juan, Spain.
authors.forename: Eusebio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: Research Support Unit, Hospital Mancha Centro, 13600 Alcazar de San Juan, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Román-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Research Support Unit, Hospital Mancha Centro, 13600 Alcazar de San Juan, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arias-Arias
authors.affiliation: Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain ; University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain ; Center for Research on Public Health (CSISP), 46020 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballester
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002980:Climate; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014887:Weather