Contribution of Weather to the Seasonality of Distal Forearm Fractures: A Population-Based Study in Rochester, Minnesota

Abstract:

Distal forearm fractures due to falls were more frequent in the winter (p<0.0001) among Rochester men and women 35 years of age or older in 1952–89. The winter excess was partially explained by a greater relative risk of distal forearm fractures on days with freezing rain (1.65; 95% CI 1.28–2.13) or snow (1.42; 95% CI 1.17–1.74) among women under 65 years of age and on days with freezing rain (1.63; 95% CI 1.23–2.17) among older women. The greater seasonality of forearm compared with hip fractures is explained by the fact that more of them occur out-of-doors. However, residual effects of season after adjusting for daily weather conditions suggest that other factors may play a role.