Fall-related fracture trends among elderly in Sweden--exoring transitions among hospitalized cases.

ABSTRACT

PROBLEM: Fall-related injuries have been a cause of worry during the end of the 20th century with increasing trends among the elderly. METHOD: Using data from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) based on hospital admissions, this study explores the trends in fall-related fractures between 1998 and 2010. RESULTS: The data shows a decreasing trend in fall-related fractures in all age- and sex-specific groups apart from men 80 years and above. While hip fracture incidence rates decreased in all age- and sex-specific groups, both central fractures and upper extremity fractures have increased in all age- and sex-specific groups apart from women 65-79 years. Lower extremity fractures have increased in the older age groups and decreased in the younger. DISCUSSION: The differences found between the groups of fractures and by age- and sex-specific groups indicate a possible transition where more serious fractures are decreasing while less serious fractures increase among hospitalized cases. SUMMARY: Perhaps due to a focus on hip fracture prevention, this study shows that while the incidence rate of hospitalized hip fractures has decreased, other fall-related hospitalized fractures have increased. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY Potentially, this could be indicative of a healthier younger elderly, coupled with a frailer older elderly requiring more comprehensive healthcare also for less serious injuries. Further research is needed to confirm our results.