Fall in hip fracture rates among over 55s

Research has found a drop in hip fracture rates in people over 55.

Analysis of data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, a long-term study involving men and women living in the Barwon Statistical Division in southeastern Australia, has found that hip fracture rates had decreased by 8% for men and 31% for women from 1994 to 2007.

While the rates of hip fracture had declined, the actual number of hip fractures had increased by 53% for men (100 to 153) and 4.4% for women (319 to 333) because of the expanding and ageing population.

The study’s author said that even with the increase in the actual number of hip fractures the study’s findings were an encouraging sign.

“Hip fractures are the most debilitating and costly fractures and lead to disability, loss of independence and, sometimes, death. So it is great to see that the fracture rates are declining,” she said. “Our results reflect a trend being reported by a number of other Western countries including Canada, the United States, Denmark and Switzerland.”