The changing epidemiology of fall-related fractures in adults

• Published in: Injury Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 819 - 824
• Main Authors: Court-Brown, C.M, Clement, N.D, Duckworth, A.D, Biant, L.C, McQueen, M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Adults; Age Distribution; Aged; Epidemiology; Falls; Fractures; Fractures, Bone - epidemiology; Frail Elderly - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Life Style; Orthopedics; Osteoporosis; Risk Assessment; Scotland - epidemiology; Sex Distribution; Falls; Osteoporosis; Adults; Fractures; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.02.021

Abstract There has been very little analysis of the epidemiology of adult fall-related fractures outwith the osteoporotic population. We have analysed all in-patient and out-patient fall-related fractures in a one-year period in a defined population and documented their epidemiology. The overall prevalence of non-spinal fall-related fractures is 63.1% with 40.7% and 82.7% occurring in males and females respectively. In females aged 20–29 years >50% of fractures follow falls, the equivalent age range in males being 50–59 years. Analysis of fall-related fractures in two one-year periods in 2000 and 2010/11 shows a significant increase in almost all age ranges up to 60–69 years with a decreased incidence in 90+ patients. In males there is a significant increase in 30–39 year males but also in males >80 years. In females the greatest increase in incidence is in 16–19 year females but all age ranges show a significant increase up to 60–69 years. There is a decreased incidence in 90+ females. The reasons for the increase in the incidence of fall-related are multifactorial but they are probably contributed to by the inherently weaker bone of younger females and by the increased incidence of conditions such as obesity and diabetes.