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A decreasing trend in fall-related hip fracture incidence in Victoria, Australia

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Abstract

Summary

In Victoria, Australia, the age-standardised incidence of fall-related hip fracture hospitalisations decreased significantly by 25% over the period 1998/1999–2008/2009. Significant decreases in fall-related hip fractures were observed in males and females, across all 5-year age groups, in Australian-born and overseas-born Victorians, in all socio-economic quintiles and in community-dwelling older people.

Introduction

The study aim was to investigate trends in the incidence of fall-related and hip fracture hospitalisations among Victorians aged 65 years and older overall and by age, gender, country of birth, socio-economic status (SES) and location of the event (home, residential care institution, etc.) over the 11-year period 1998/1999 to 2008/2009.

Methods

Annual counts and age-standardised rates for fall-related hospitalisations among people aged 65 years and older were estimated using Victorian hospital admissions data. The statistical significance of changes in trends over time were analysed using a log-linear regression model of the rate data assuming a Poisson distribution of cases.

Results

Although the age-standardised incidence of fall-related hospitalisations increased significantly by 13% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9% to 18%) in Victoria, the age-standardised incidence of fall-related hip fracture hospitalisations decreased from 600/100,000 in 1998/1999 to 467/100,000 in 2008/2009 — an estimated overall reduction of 25% (95% CI, −29% to −22%). By contrast, the age-standardised incidence of fall-related hospitalisations for fractures at other body sites either increased significantly or showed no significant change. Significant decreases in fall-related hip fractures were observed in both males and females, across all 5-year age groups, in both Australian-born and overseas-born Victorians, in all socio-economic quintiles and in community-dwelling older people but not in people living in residential care facilities.

Conclusion

Despite the downward trend in the age-standardised incidence of fall-related hip fractures in Victoria, the burden of fall-related and hip fracture hospitalisations on health care systems and the community is set to escalate due to the ageing of the Victorian population.

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Acknowledgements

E. Cassell and A. Clapperton were supported by the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit’s core grant from the Victorian Department of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, Monash Injury Research Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    E. Cassell & A. Clapperton

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  1. E. Cassell
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Correspondence to E. Cassell.

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Cassell, E., Clapperton, A. A decreasing trend in fall-related hip fracture incidence in Victoria, Australia. Osteoporos Int 24, 99–109 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-1937-6

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