Our aim was to analyze trends in hip fracture rates in people aged ≥ 65 years, from 2001 to 2019 in Chile. Age-standardized incidence rates decreased significantly in both genders over the study period.
Purpose: To describe and analyze the characteristics and trends of osteoporotic hip fractures in Chile from 2001 to 2019, by age and sex.
Methods: We assessed hip fractures in people aged ≥ 65 years using data from the hospital discharge register of Chile's Department of Statistics and Health. The Joinpoint regression analysis software was used to perform a trend analysis.
Results: From 2001 to 2019, a total of 107.972 patients aged ≥ 65 years were hospitalized in Chile with a diagnosis of hip fracture (S72.0, S72.1, and S72.2). 77.4% of the patients were females, and 63.7% were adults aged ≥ 80 years. The average annual incidence rate over this period was 358.3/100.000 in the whole population (95% CI: ± 12.8), 195.2/100.000 in men (95% CI: ± 9), and 482/100.000 in women (95% CI: ± 15.5). After an adjustment for age, hip fracture rates decreased annually on average by 1.0% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: - 1.4%, - 0.7%), from 358.5/100.000 in 2001 to 331.7/100.000 in 2019. Hip fracture rates decreased annually in both men (- 1.4%, p < 0.001) and women (- 0.9%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures has been decreasing annually and significantly in Chile since 2001, both in men and women. This may be caused by increased levels of obesity and a lower risk of falling among older adults. We recommend further studies to assess all factors contributing to this change in hip fracture rates.
Keywords: Chile; Hip fracture; Osteoporotic fracture; Rates; Trends.
© 2022. International Osteoporosis Foundation and National Osteoporosis Foundation.