Most hip fractures occur in warm months, indoors

Editor's Note

Most elderly hip fractures occur during warm months, and a greater number happen indoors rather than out, finds this study presented October 23 at the Anesthesiology 2017 annual meeting in Boston.

In this analysis of 544 hip fracture patients treated at The Hospital of Central Connecticut from 2013 to 2016, more than 55% occurred during warm months (ie, May 1-October 31), with the highest number occurring in May (10.5%), September (10.3%), and October (9.7%).

The majority (76.3%) of fractures occurred indoors, and only 23.6% happened outside. In addition, more than 60% of outdoor fractures and some 56% of indoor fractures happened during warm months.

Efforts to decrease fall risks in the elderly living in cold climates should not be aimed at preventing outdoor fractures in winter but should focus on conditions present throughout the year and, most importantly, on mitigating indoor risks, the researchers concluded.

BOSTON - Think the shorter winter days, ice and snow put your older loved one at greater risk for a fall and broken hip? Think again. A preliminary study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2017 annual meeting shows that the majority of falls occur during warm months, and a greater number of the falls happen indoors rather than out.

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