MORTALITY AFTER HIP FRACTURE: 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Hip fractures due to osteoporosis constitute a health problem and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the rates, causes, and risk factors for mortality in patients with hip fractures over a 10-year follow-up period. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged >= 50 years who were part of the health plan at the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires and were hospitalized for hip fracture between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010. Sex, age, comorbidities, and pre- and post-fracture bisphosphonate treatment were evaluated. Statistical methods included chi-square tests, mean, median, standard deviation, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 965 patients were included. The mean age at the time of fracture was 81.6 years, and 80.7% were women. The overall mortality rate at one year was 14.9%, increasing to 73.2% at 10 years. Mortality was higher in men (HR: 1.31; 95% CI 1.10-1.58; p=0.003), older age (HR: 1.10; 95% CI 1.091.11; p<0.001), and Charlson comorbidity score (HR: 1.29; 95% CI 1.23-1.34; p<0.001) at ten years of follow-up. Risk factors for mortality during the study period, according to multivariate Cox analysis, included age, Charlson index, male sex, medial fracture, dementia, and congestive heart failure. Bisphosphonates improved survival (Cox analysis). The most common causes of death were infectious and cardiovascular. Patients that survived after ten years of followup were healthier, younger at baseline, and showed a higher proportion of treatment with bisphosphonates after hip fracture. Conclusions: This long-term observation highlights the importance of follow-up and osteoactive drug treatment after hip fracture, especially in older, male and patients with comorbidities