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Epidemiology of distal forearm fractures in Austria between 1989 and 2010

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Abstract

Summary

Only few studies have been published hitherto on country-specific incidence of distal forearm fracture. In the prevailing study, incidences were estimated, and trend analyses were performed for the entire Austrian population aged ≥50á. Incidence decreased significantly in women, but not in men, over the past 12 years of observation.

Introduction

To estimate incidence of distal forearm fracture and assess incidence trends in the entire Austrian population aged ≥50á from 1989–2010 for inpatient fractures and from 1999 to 2010 for all fractures.

Methods

The number of inpatient forearm fractures was obtained from the Austrian Hospital Discharge Register (AHDR) for the entire population aged ≥50á from 1989 to 2010. Total number of distal forearm fractures was modeled using patient-level data on 36,327 patients with distal forearm fractures. Crude and age-standardized incidence rates (cases per 100,000) were estimated in 5-year age intervals. To analyze the change in incidence over time, average annual changes expressed as incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated.

Results

For all distal forearm fractures, age-standardized incidence in women in 1999 and 2009 were estimated at 709 (95 % CI 675–743) and 607 (578–637), respectively. The age-standardized incidences in men the same years were estimated at 171 (156–185) and 162 (151–174), respectively. IRR analyses showed a significant decrease in women (−1.1 %, p < 0.01) but not in men (−0.8 %, p > 0.05) over the last 12 years (1999–2010).

Conclusion

Incidence of distal forearm fracture in the entire Austrian population is comparable to hip fracture incidence which is known to be among the highest worldwide. However, trend analyses reveal a significant decrease for all distal forearm fractures in women, but not in men, over the last 12 years.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by a Medical Research Fund of the Medical University of Graz. We would like to thank Mrs. Dr. Erika Baldaszti and Mrs. Mag. Barbara Leitner from Statistics Austria for providing us with the data from the Austrian Hospital Discharge Register.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerpl. 2, A-8036, Graz, Austria

    H. P. Dimai, A. Fahrleitner-Pammer & K. Amrein

  2. St. Vincent Hospital, Medical Department II, Vienna, Austria

    H. Resch & C. Muschitz

  3. Trauma Center Meidling, Vienna, Austria

    H. Thaler

  4. Optum Insight, Stockholm, Sweden

    A. Svedbom

  5. Austrian Trauma Insurance Agency (AUVA), Vienna, Austria

    M. Szivak

  6. Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden

    F. Borgström

Authors
  1. H. P. Dimai
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  2. A. Svedbom
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  3. A. Fahrleitner-Pammer
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  4. H. Resch
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  5. C. Muschitz
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  6. H. Thaler
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  7. M. Szivak
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  8. K. Amrein
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  9. F. Borgström
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Correspondence to H. P. Dimai.

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Dimai, H.P., Svedbom, A., Fahrleitner-Pammer, A. et al. Epidemiology of distal forearm fractures in Austria between 1989 and 2010. Osteoporos Int 25, 2297–2306 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-014-2766-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-014-2766-6

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