Incidence and costs of hip fractures compared to acute myocardial infarction in the Italian population: a 4-year survey.

INTRODUCTION: Few data are available about the incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy. We aimed to determine the impact of hip fractures vs. acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: We studied the national hospitalization database to calculate their incidence and costs in adults aged >or=45 between 1999 and 2002. RESULTS: In 2002, there were 86,719 hip fractures with a 10.0% increase over 4 years. We observed a predominance of women (77.1%) and a strong age effect: 92.7% of patients were >or=65 years old and 80% of fractures occurred in women aged >or=75, showing a clear relationship with the incidence of osteoporosis. Hospitalizations due to AMI after 45 years of age in 1999 were only 9% higher than those for hip fracture, although this difference increased over the 4 examined years up to 24%. Considering the DRGs costs, hip fractures resulted in being more expensive than AMI overall and concerning elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in the Italian population aged >or=45, hospitalizations following hip fracture and AMI between 1999 and 2002 were comparable, while hip fractures' direct costs were higher and grew faster than costs for AMI. Hip fractures in Italy are a serious medical problem and a leading health-cost driver.

[Incidence and socioeconomic burden of hip fractures in Italy]. / Incidenza e costi delle fratture di femore in Italia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of the incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy. METHODS: The incidence of hip fractures after 45 years of age in both females and males during the years 1999-2002 was obtained by analyzing the Italian Ministry of Health national hospitalization database, according to the diagnosis codes of International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification, 9th edition (IDC-9-CM) that indicate femoral fracture. We have computed all direct costs sustained by the National Health Service for hospitalization and treatment of hip fractures on the basis of the value of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) referring to hip fractures. The expenses of rehabilitation and indirect expenses were based on estimates. RESULTS: In 2002, more than 86,000 hip fractures were registered in Italy in male and female patients over 45 years old, with 9% progression compared to 1999; 77% were female and 80% were over 75 years of age. In 2002 the direct costs of hospitalization, in the patients over 65 years alone, were almost 400 million euros, with an increase of 15% as compared to 1999. Considering also estimated rehabilitation costs, social aid and indirect costs, we estimate that hip fractures due to age-related osteoporosis created over a billion euros in expenses in 2002. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive intervention regarding the risk of hip fracture in elderly patients is urgent.