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Incidence and costs of hip fractures compared to acute myocardial infarction in the Italian population: a 4-year survey

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Abstract

Introduction

Few data are available about the incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy. We aimed to determine the impact of hip fractures vs. acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

We studied the national hospitalization database to calculate their incidence and costs in adults aged ≥45 between 1999 and 2002.

Results

In 2002, there were 86,719 hip fractures with a 10.0% increase over 4 years. We observed a predominance of women (77.1%) and a strong age effect: 92.7% of patients were ≥65 years old and 80% of fractures occurred in women aged ≥75, showing a clear relationship with the incidence of osteoporosis. Hospitalizations due to AMI after 45 years of age in 1999 were only 9% higher than those for hip fracture, although this difference increased over the 4 examined years up to 24%. Considering the DRGs costs, hip fractures resulted in being more expensive than AMI overall and concerning elderly people.

Conclusions

This study shows that in the Italian population aged ≥45, hospitalizations following hip fracture and AMI between 1999 and 2002 were comparable, while hip fractures’ direct costs were higher and grew faster than costs for AMI. Hip fractures in Italy are a serious medical problem and a leading health-cost driver.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded and promoted by Second University of Naples (SUN). We thank Prof. M.L. Brandi (SIOMMMS President) for supporting our study group; we are grateful to Dr. L. Lispi and D. Del Gigante (General Direction for Planning Affairs, Italian Ministry of Health) for their help in the analysis of national hospitalization data. Many thanks to Senator L. Compagna (Parliamentary Commission for Education, University and Scientific Research) and to Commission XII (Public Health) of the Italian Senate. We are also grateful to Dr. G. D’Alò, Dr. R. Giorgino and Dr. W. Meier for all the indications that allowed the beginning of this study in 2002. Special acknowledgments go to Dr. F. Gnagnarella (LUM Jean Monnet, Bari), Prof. F. P. Calamo Specchia (Catholic University of Rome) and the CERSUM research group on osteoporosis, whose members are: G. Gaeta, L. Di Paola, G. Chitano and M. Benvenuto (Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, ISBEM/IFC CNR, Brindisi). Other members of the SIOMMMS study group on epidemiological topics of femoral fractures are: Dr. Eugenio Quarta (AUSL Lecce1, Lecce), Dr. Giovanni Scuderi (AUSL Trapani/1), Dr. Fabio Di Salvo (SANICAM, Palermo), Dr. Guido Siciliano (University of Catania), Dr. Vito Martorana (CTO Palermo), Dr. Antonietta Matina (Palermo University Hospital), Dr. Carmela Sferrazza (Palermo University Hospital), Dr. Nicola Napoli (Palermo University Hospital), Dr. Andrea Dovio (University of Turin), Prof. Giulia Letizia (University of Palermo).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pisa, ISBEM Research Center, Brindisi, Italy

    P. Piscitelli

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    G. Iolascon, F. Gimigliano, S. Gatto, R. Gimigliano & G. Guida

  3. Local Health Authority AUSL Lecce/1, Lecce, Italy

    M. Muratore

  4. Local Health Authority AUSL Lecce/2, Maglie, Italy

    P. Camboa & O. Borgia

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Città di Lecce Hospital, Lecce, Italy

    F. Fitto

  6. National Committee for Biosecurity and Biotechnologies, Biorisks Group, Rome, Italy

    V. Robaud

  7. Department of Rheumatology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    G. Termini & G. B. Rini

  8. National Research Council (CNR), Clinical Physiology Institute, Mesagne, Italy

    E. Gianicolo & A. Distante

  9. Health Economics, Villa Verde Hospital, Taranto, Italy

    A. Faino

  10. Department of Rheumatology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    M. Rossini & S. Adami

  11. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    A. Angeli

  12. Forcina Laboratories, Galatina, Italy

    B. Forcina

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  1. P. Piscitelli
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  2. G. Iolascon
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  3. F. Gimigliano
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  4. M. Muratore
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  8. F. Fitto
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  9. V. Robaud
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  10. G. Termini
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  13. A. Faino
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  14. M. Rossini
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  15. S. Adami
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  16. A. Angeli
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  17. A. Distante
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  18. S. Gatto
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  19. R. Gimigliano
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  20. G. Guida
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on the behalf of the SIOMMMS study group and the CERSUM research group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Piscitelli.

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Piscitelli, P., Iolascon, G., Gimigliano, F. et al. Incidence and costs of hip fractures compared to acute myocardial infarction in the Italian population: a 4-year survey. Osteoporos Int 18, 211–219 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0224-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0224-9

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