Trends in Hip Fracture Incidence and Mortality — 1986–2005

Hip fractures are common, expensive, and associated with high mortality. Researchers used a sample of Medicare claims to assess trends in incidence and mortality in nearly 800,000 hip fractures (77% in women) from 1986 through 2005.

In both men and women, hip-fracture incidence rose between 1986 and 1995 and then declined between 1995 and 2005. Between 1986 and 2005, overall incidence declined by 18% in women and by 7% in men. Most of the decline in incidence occurred in men and women older than 84. One-year mortality decreased from 24% to 22% in women and from 41% to 33% in men. For both men and women, most of the fracture-associated mortality reduction occurred from 1986 to 1995.