Update on Global Epidemiology of Hip Fractures 

The burden of care to manage hip fracture patients is growing with the number set to double by 2050 and a gap in fracture prevention strategies in countries around the globe.

Hip fracture is an acknowledged major public health problem worldwide, with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. A recent international study examined the incidence of hip fractures, postfracture treatment, and all-cause mortality following hip fractures, based on demographics, geography, and year, from 2005 to 2018.

Among the most remarkable results of this study, are the following:

• Over 70% of fractures occurred in females and more than 40% occurred in people aged ≥85 years.
• The highest incidence rate was observed in Denmark, followed by Singapore and Taiwan, while the lowest incidence rate was observed in Brazil, followed by Thailand and UK.
• The incidence of hip fractures increased with age.
• The burden of hip fractures, in terms of post-hip fracture treatment and mortality, was higher in males than in females.
• A large post-hip fracture treatment gap in fracture prevention was observed across all countries.

Another significant result of the study was that hip fracture incidence rates have declined in recent years in most countries and regions. However, as the global population ages, the burden of hip fractures will increase, with the number of hip fractures projected to double by 2050. This, in combination with the gap in post-hip fracture prevention, means that we need to intensify the effort to optimise globally the multidisciplinary management of the patient with a fragility fracture, including secondary prevention, which is the cornerstone of FFN’s mission.

You can read the full study here!