Evaluation of the age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures between urban and rural areas: the difference is not related to the prevalence of institutions for the elderly

• Published in: Osteoporosis international 2002-01, Vol.13 (2), p.113-118
• Main Authors: Chevalley, T, Herrmann, F R, Delmi, M, Stern, R, Hoffmeyer, P, Rapin, C H, Rizzoli, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Hip Fractures - epidemiology; Hip Fractures - etiology; Homes for the Aged - statistics & numerical data; Homes for the Aged - supply & distribution; Humans; Incidence; Institutionalization - statistics & numerical data; Logistic Models; Male; Osteoporosis - complications; Rural Health - statistics & numerical data; Sex Distribution; Switzerland - epidemiology; Urban Health - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s001980200002

As many as 40% of hip fractures occur in institutions for the elderly. Several studies have demonstrated a higher age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures in urban areas compared with rural areas. To assess whether this difference could be due to a preferential location of institutions for the elderly in urban areas, we compared the incidence of hip fractures over a 5-year period in urban versus rural areas, as defined according to the population density (urban > 15 inhabitants/ha2). We then determined the age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures in institutional-dwelling elderly and home-dwelling elderly. Hip fracture incidence was 100.0/100,000 (150.5 in women and 43.8 in men) in urban areas, and 71.0/100,000 (107.2 in women and 32.8 in men) in rural areas (p