Introduction

In patients who sustain a hip fracture, general status at admission affects the outcome. We have reported that the functional outcome of elderly patients with hip fracture is affected by age and status of dementia and anemia [1, 2]. In addition, Muramoto et al. [3] reported that hemoglobin level at admission is related to functional and survival outcome of hip fracture patients aged 90 or older. However, there are few detailed studies on the relationship between anemia at admission and outcome of patients with hip fracture [4, 5]. In this study, we examined the relationship of hemoglobin level at admission with walking ability and survival outcome at discharge.

Materials and methods

Between 1 January 1997 and 31 May 2006, 394 patients (89 men, 305 women) aged 60 or older were treated at the National Kofu Hospital for hip fracture. This hospital is a self-contained regional hospital with an orthopedic department and an in-hospital rehabilitation facility, which provides care for patients with acute injury. However, we do not have affiliated rehabilitation or long-term-care facilities. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the National Kofu Hospital. Enrolled patients gave informed consent.

This patient group was studied retrospectively. All patients were examined at the time of admission and were followed. Information regarding preinjury living status was obtained by interview with the patient or family member. Data on health status and discharge status were collected by reviewing clinical charts during hospitalization and at discharge. The age at injury ranged from 60 to 103 years, with a mean of 82.8 years. The fracture type was femoral neck fracture in 125 cases and trochanteric fracture in 269 cases. Surgery was conducted in 347 patients, 163 of whom received open reduction using compression hip screw, 63 had femoral head replacement, in 46 patients a Hansson pin was used, in 32 a gamma nail, in 22 a twin-hook system [6], and in 21 other devices were used. The remaining 47 patients received conservative treatment for various reasons, including refusal of surgery by the family. The 394 patients were classified as anemic when the hemoglobin level at admission was <13.0 g/dl for men and <12.0 g/dl for women. Anemic patients were further subclassified as severe anemia when hemoglobin level was 10 g/dl or below and as mild anemia when at higher levels [5].

Next, the subjects were investigated for nine parameters, including gender, age younger than 85 years and 85 years or older, residence before injury, fracture type, treatment modality, and walking ability before injury and at discharge. Univariate analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the status of anemia and each of the above parameters. Then, multivariate analysis was conducted by logistic regression analysis, using the parameters that showed a significant difference in univariate analysis as independent variables and anemia status as dependent variable. The same analysis was conducted on the subgroup of anemic patients stratified into severe or mild anemia. The goal of hospital discharge was set as recovery of walking ability to the preinjury level. However, for patients who showed no further improvement in walking ability, the goal of discharge was considered to be walking ability at that point. Walking ability at discharge was classified into a group capable of walking independently or with a walking aid (ambulatory group) and a group not capable of walking (nonambulatory group).

Results

At admission, anemia was observed in 266 (66 men and 200 women) of 394 patients (67.5%), 94 of whom were severely anemic. Regarding walking ability at discharge, 222 patients (56.3%) were ambulatory and 172 patients (43.7%) were nonambulatory, the latter included 16 patients who died in hospital. Ninety-nine of 394 patients received blood transfusion during hospitalization.

Comparing the anemic and nonanemic groups, significant differences were observed for age, residence before injury, and fracture type. The anemic group had a high proportion (53%) of elderly aged 85 or older, and many (72.9%) had trochanteric fractures (Table 1). There was no difference in length of hospital stay between the two groups. On the other hand, only 130 of 266 (48.9%) anemic patients were ambulatory compared with 71.9% of nonanemic patients, showing a relationship between the status of anemia and walking ability at discharge. Moreover, the in-hospital mortality was also higher in the anemic group (Table 2). Then, multivariate analysis was conducted using the five parameters that showed significant differences in the above analysis (age, residence before injury, fracture type, walking ability at discharge, and in-hospital mortality) as independent variables. Three variables—age, fracture type, and walking ability at discharge—were found to be independently related to the status of anemia (Table 3).

Table 1 General patient characteristics (n = 394)
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Table 2 Anemia and clinical outcome
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Table 3 Significant factors for anemia at admission identified by multivariate analysis (R2 = 0.135)
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Next, 94 patients with severe anemia were compared with 172 patients with mild anemia. By univariate analysis, significant differences were detected for age, fracture type, and survival outcome at discharge, whereas no significant relationship was observed for the other variables (Table 4). The result of multivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between severity of anemia and two variables (Table 5).

Table 4 Comparison of severely anemic patients with mildly anemic patients
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Table 5 Significant factors for severe anemia at admission identified by multivariate analysis (R2 = 0.064)
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Discussion

Gruson et al. [5] examined 395 hip fracture patients aged ≥65 years and observed anemia at admission in 180 patients (45.6%). They reported that anemia at admission was significantly related to length of hospital stay and mortality rate at 6 and 12 months. Halm et al. [4] also observed anemia (hemoglobin <12.0 g/dl) at admission in 40.4% of 550 patients with hip fracture, and reported that anemia at admission is related to the length of hospital stay and death or readmission within 60 days. Furthermore, a delay in surgery has been found to worsen the outcome. Blom et al. [7] investigated the factors that contributed to surgical delay and identified predictors, including preoperative anemia, in addition to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, urinary tract infection, and chest infection, leading to a conclusion that the presence of a preoperative medical condition has an important effect on surgical delay for a hip fracture. Our study also showed a correlation between hemoglobin at admission and functional and survival outcome of hip fracture, confirming a relationship between anemia at admission and outcome.

Postoperative anemia and transfusion in hip fracture patients have also been studied. Lawrence et al. [8] investigated the relationship between postoperative hemoglobin level and outcome and concluded that higher postoperative hemoglobin level may improve functional recovery after hip fracture repair. On the other hand, Carson et al. [9] analyzed the relationship between postoperative blood transfusion and mortality in hip fracture surgical patients aged 60 or older and found no definite relationship between the two. These findings suggest that postoperative anemia is affected by factors such as the waiting period until surgery and surgical modality but does not reflect the general status of the patient before injury.

We propose that hemoglobin level at admission is an indicator of the general status of the patient before injury and is a predicator of outcome. In our study, anemia at admission correlates with fracture type, and many anemic patients had trochanteric fracture. Almost all patients with trochanteric fracture visited the hospital immediately after injury and underwent blood tests while still in a state of dehydration. Halm et al. [4] suggested that many elderly patients may be dehydrated on admission, and the initial fluid hydration may decrease hemoglobin levels. Therefore, low hemoglobin level at admission is not due to bleeding from trochanteric fracture but reflects anemia before injury. Our finding also suggests that anemic patients are more susceptible to trochanteric fracture. From our finding of a correlation between age and anemia, together with reports of an increase in incidence of trochanteric fracture with advancing age [10] and a higher risk of fall in anemic elderly patients [11, 12], elderly patients with anemia may be more prone to sustain trochanteric fracture as a result of a fall.

Halm et al. [4] explains that the degree of anemia is probably a strong, independent, prognostic factor because it is a marker of underlying comorbid illness burden and physiologic reverse. Therefore, patients found to have anemia at admission are likely to have a poor general status, even before injury. The above findings indicate that for patients with anemia at admission, careful systemic management together with early surgery and rehabilitation contribute to achieving favorable outcome.