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Hip fractures in Italy: 2000–2005 extension study

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Abstract

Summary

A total of 507,671 people ≥65 experienced hip fractures between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 94,471 people ≥65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. Most fractures occurred in patients ≥75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years), particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967).

Introduction

We aimed to analyze incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy over the last 6 years.

Methods

We analyzed the national hospitalization and DRG databases concerning fractures occurred in people ≥65 between 2000 and 2005.

Results

A total of 507,671 people ≥65 experienced hip fractures across 6 years, resulting in about 120,000 deaths. In year 2005 94,471 people aged ≥65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. The majority of hip fractures occurred in patients ≥75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years) and particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967). Among women, 84.2% of fractures (n = 334,223; +28.0% over 6 years) were experienced by patients ≥75, which is known to be the age group with the highest prevalence of osteoporosis, accounting for 68.6% of the overall observed increase in the total number of fractures. Hip fractures in men ≥75 increased by 33.1% (up to 16,540). Hospitalization costs increased across the six examined years (+36.1%) reaching 467 million euros in 2005, while rehabilitation costs rose up to 531 million in the same year.

Conclusions

Hip fractures of the elderly are increasing and represent a major health problem in industrialized countries such as Italy.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. L. Lispi and D. Del Gigante (General Direction for Planning Affairs, Italian Ministry of Health) for their help in the analysis of national hospitalization data. Many thanks to the CERSUM research group on osteoporosis (Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, ISBEM/IFC CNR, Brindisi).

Conflicts of interest

AD, AM, SG, PM, MM, EQ, FC, FF, GC, MLB, GC, AG, GG, RG, GI have received research grant and funding for consulting/speaking by Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Stroder-Servier, Procter & Gamble, Ely Lilly, Roche, Glaxo; PP has received once funding for consulting/speaking by Sanofi-Aventis; FG, AM, GC, MC, LDP, MB, ES, OB, BF: no disclosures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    P. Piscitelli & M. L. Brandi

  2. ISBEM Research Institute, via Reali di Bulgaria, 72023, Mesagne, Brindisi, Italy

    P. Piscitelli, G. Chitano, M. Greco, L. Di Paola, E. Sbenaglia, M. Benvenuto & A. Distante

  3. Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    F. Gimigliano, S. Gatto, A. Marinelli, A. Gimigliano, P. Marinelli, G. Guida, R. Gimigliano & G. Iolascon

  4. Local Health Authority of Lecce, San Cesario, Italy

    M. Muratore, E. Quarta, F. Calcagnile, G. Colì & O. Borgia

  5. Forcina Laboratories, Galatina, Italy

    B. Forcina

  6. Città di Lecce Hospital, Lecce, Italy

    F. Fitto

  7. University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    A. Giordano

  8. University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    A. Distante

  9. University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    M. Rossini

  10. University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    A. Angeli

  11. Fatebenefratelli St. Peters’ Hospital, Rome, Italy

    A. Migliore

  12. IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

    G. Guglielmi

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  1. P. Piscitelli
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Correspondence to P. Piscitelli.

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Piscitelli, P., Gimigliano, F., Gatto, S. et al. Hip fractures in Italy: 2000–2005 extension study. Osteoporos Int 21, 1323–1330 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-1084-x

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