Led by the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), an international research team evaluated the trends in hip fracture incidence, post-fracture treatment, and all-cause mortality in 19 countries and regions from 2005 to 2018.
The study reveals concerning findings: while the age- and sex-standardised hip fracture incidence rates decreased in most regions, the number of hip fractures worldwide are projected to nearly double by 2050 compared to 2018. A significant post-fracture treatment gap in fracture prevention was also observed in all countries and regions, particularly in men. The study, recently published in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, highlights an urgent need for better strategies in hip fracture prevention and care.
Researchers directly accessed the data from a large representative cohort involving 19 countries and regions to examine the trends among patients aged 50 years and older. Despite most countries and regions showing a decreasing trend in hip fracture incidence the total number of fractures is estimated to nearly double from 2018 to 2050.
The study highlights substantial variations in the global epidemiology of hip fractures and post-fracture outcomes across countries and regions. A key message is that decline in hip fractures in many countries in recent years is not enough to offset the impact of the aging population. Hip fracture remains a global public health concern contributing to increased dependency, morbidity, and mortality, and placing a burden on patients, their families, and healthcare systems. Given that the burden of hip fracture is expected to continue to grow, government policy and multidisciplinary intervention should be considered to reduce the impact of the hip fracture in the coming 30 years.
Full details for the study and the research team may be found at the study website.