Background: Excessive mortality and morbidity are serious problems after hip fracture in the elderly.
Methods: Hip fractures in persons aged 50 years or older were prospectively registered in Japan in 2000. Questionnaires regarding both the first onset and the second 120-day period after hip fracture were obtained from 759 patients, 546 of whom were female and 213 male.
Results: Their average age at the time of fracture was 80 years. Altogether, 68 people (9%) died within 120 days after fracture; and 25 patients died within 30 days. Those dying within 120 days and those alive after hip fracture were compared. By univariate analysis, risk factors were poor walking ability, need for a walking aid, low body mass index, history of falls, and lack of active exercise; however, none of these factors was identified as a risk factor by multivariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, the five risk factors associated with mortality were male sex, older age, high American Academy of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade, dementia, and residence in an institution.
Conclusions: During the treatment and rehabilitation period special attention should be paid to patients with chronic diseases and reduced mental status.