Bone Abstracts

Introduction: Mortality after hip fracture is increased. However, only a few studies have explored for predictors beyond gender and age. Thus our aim was to study risk factors associated with increased mortality in hip fracture patients.

Methods: Hip fracture patients (>50 years) admitted to a county hospital in 2004–2005 were consecutively invited for assessment at the hospital osteoporosis centre. A broad spectre of data was collected. Standardized bone density measurements at lumbar spine L2–4 and hip (femoral neck and total hip) were performed using DXA (Lunar Prodigy). DXA osteoporosis was defined as T-score ≤−2.5 at lumbar spine and/or hip.

Results: hip fracture patients (129 men and 303 women) were identified and 296 (85 men and 211 women); (mean age 80.7 (S.D. 9.1) were assessed at the Osteoporosis center. DXA osteoporosis was found in 218 (74.1%) patients (53 males, 165 females). In bivariate analysis, variables significantly associated (P<0.05) with increased mortality included no snow, indoor activity, osteoporosis, restricted mobility, stroke, dementia, inability to walk outdoors, visual impairment, older age >80 years and male gender. In the table variables independently associated with increased mortality is displayed. Table 1

Conclusion: Osteoporosis was found to be an independent predictor of mortality. This is in particular interesting as treatment with bisphosphonates has been shown not only to reduce fractures but mortality too.