Hip Fractures in Women Deadly

Prevent falls. Prevent hip fractures.
@Don Farral, Getty Images

Hip fractures in women ages 65 to 79 are linked to in an increase in short-term mortality according to an ongoing Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research report.

Investigators followed 1,116 women who had hip fractures and compared them with about 4,500 similar women without hip fractures.

They found that the risk of dying within a year of breaking a hip doubled for women in their 70s.
Mortality for women in their 80s remained the same, regardless of whether they had a hip fracture. t
The risk of short-term mortality tripled for otherwise healthy women who suffered a hip fracture in their 80s.

The authors wrote. “Women who are 65 to 70 years of age continue to have an increased risk of mortality for up to five to 10 years; therefore, prevention of hip fractures in these women should be of high priority.

Falls are a leading culprit for hip fractures. Interventions such as balance classes, other exercise and home modifications can cut down on the risk. Do that and you will decrease hip fractures.

The study was published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine.