Incidence of hip fracture in Niigata, Japan in 2004 and 2010 and the long-term trends from 1985 to 2010.

We investigated the incidence of hip fracture in a population of patients ≥50 years old in 2004 and 2010 in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. We also investigated the long-term trends in the incidence of hip fracture from 1985 to 2010, using our previously reported survey results obtained from 1985 to 1999. In 2004 and 2010, the survey found 2,368 and 3,218 proximal femur fractures, respectively. The crude hip fracture incidence rates in 2004 and 2010 were 215.8 and 281.5 per 100,000 of population per year, respectively. For males, the incidence rates were 99.9 in 2004 and 126.3 in 2010; for females, the incidence rates were 311.0 and 410.7, respectively. In males aged 80-84 years, the incidence rate since 1999 has been decreasing, while that for males >85 years peaked in 2004. In females of all ages, the incidence rate was higher in 2010 than in all other survey periods, and in females >85 years, the incidence has increased the fastest. Additionally, the long-term changes in the age- and sex-standardized incidence each year using the 1985 population structure in Japan in females has been increasing, although it decreased in 1999. However, in males, the incidence in 2010 was not significantly different from that in 1994, although it has been increasing since 1999. Our study findings indicate that the age-specific incidence of hip fractures in the Niigata Prefecture of Japan has not plateaued in females, but that it may have done so in males; in addition, the number and incidence of hip fractures has been increasing.

Incidence and outcome of osteoporotic fractures in 2004 in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

Osteoporotic fracture in elderly populations is increasing worldwide, but there are few data on the incidence and outcome of osteoporotic fractures, including upper extremity and vertebral fracture, during a certain period in a defined geographic area. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in a particular area: Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. From January to December 2004, osteoporotic fractures of the vertebra, hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus in Sado City were recorded. The incidence, age, gender, type of fracture (for hip fracture), right or left side (for distal radius, proximal humerus, and hip fracture), place of injury, cause of injury, outcome, hospitalization period, and patient status regarding taking of drugs for osteoporosis treatment were checked for each fracture. The incidence was calculated based on the whole population of Sado City. The incidence per 100,000 population was 232.8, 121.4, 108.6, and 37.1 for fractures of the vertebra, hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus, respectively. The total incidence of these four kinds of fracture was 499.9 per 100,000 persons per year. The average age at the time of injury was 81.4, 77.7, 75.7, and 60.2 years old for fractures of the hip, vertebra, proximal humerus, and distal radius, respectively. As the average age increased, the percentage of fractures that occurred indoors also increased; that is, a higher percentage of hip fractures occurred indoors, followed by fractures of the vertebra, proximal humerus, and distal radius. Most patients were not taking anti-osteoporosis drugs before fractures of the hip or vertebra. We determined the incidence of major osteoporotic fractures in 1 year in a defined geographic area. Our data showed that 81% of hip fracture patients also had a vertebral fracture and that the average age at the time of injury was higher for hip fractures than for vertebral fractures. Therefore, these results suggest that vertebral fracture leads to hip fracture, indicating that early fracture prevention and continuous prevention strategies through positive treatment are of importance in osteoporotic elderly people.

[QOL assessment for osteoporosis].

It is important to assess QOL in the patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis results in fractures of vertebrae and hips, consequently inducing spinal deformity and limited walking ability. These indicate that osteoporosis decreased QOL. The goal of the treatment for osteoporosis is to improve bone fragility as well as to maintain QOL. QOL questionnaire could be widely used.