Factors Leading to Falls in Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures

One-third of individuals older than 65 years fall each year, with a small proportion of those sustaining a hip fracture. As the population continues to age, the absolute number of elderly persons sustaining a hip fracture is likely to increase, resulting in this injury to become a prominent health care concern. Hip fractures cost upward of $12 billion each year. There are multiple causes, such as polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, physiologic changes associated with aging, and a history of previous falls, that can increase an individual's risk for falling. Prevention of falling requires a multifactorial approach.