Pelvic Fractures-An Underestimated Problem? Incidence and Mortality Risk after Pelvic Fracture in Austria, 2010-2018

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine 2022-05, Vol.11 (10), p.2834
• Main Authors: Behanova, Martina, Haschka, Judith, Reichardt, Berthold, Dimai, Hans-Peter, Resch, Heinrich, Zwerina, Jochen, Kocijan, Roland
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Clinical medicine; Employees; Fractures; Health insurance; Hospitals; Mortality; Older people; Osteoporosis; Patients; Pelvis; Population; Self employment; Trauma; Trends
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102834

(1) Background: Pelvic fractures (PFs) are related to osteoporosis, and represent a serious individual and socioeconomic burden. (2) Methods: We examined age- and sex-standardised incidence rates (SIRs) of PF, along with rates of all-cause overall and one-year mortality among patients with PF. We compared the mortality rates between PF patients and a matched fracture-free cohort. Patients ≥50 years old in Austria hospitalised with PF in 2010−2018, along with their dates of death, were recorded. (3) Results: We identified 54,975 patients with PF, of whom 70.9% were women. Between 2010 and 2018 the SIR of PF increased in men by 10.0%—from 125.3 (95% Confidence Interval 118.9−132.0) to 137.8 (95% CI 131.8−144.0) per 100,000—and in women by 2.7%—from 218.7 (95% CI 212.0−225.6) to 224.7 (95% CI 218.3−231.3) per 100,000. The one-year post-PF mortality rate was higher in men than in women (13.0% and 11.1%, respectively; p < 0.001). Pelvic fracture patients aged ≥65 had an elevated mortality risk (Hazard Ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.71−1.79, p < 0.001) compared to controls. (4) Conclusions: There is a clear increase in the incidence of PF in the elderly population, with a greater increase in men over time. Pelvic fracture itself contributes to increased mortality in individuals aged 65 and above.