For Older Adults, Breaking a Hip Can Be Deadlier Than Cancer

Breaking a hip is a standard fear in older adults. It’s linked to a protracted recovery period and even death in an older population. New research is validating and quantifying that fear, showing that survival rates post-hip fracture might be lower than those for several cancers.

The research, published in JBMR Plusexamined health data from nearly 100,000 Canadians aged 65 and older, finding that hip fractures resulted within the poorest outcomes. Less than one-third of affected men and half of the affected women survived for five years post-fracture. The oldest demographic, people over 85, faced the worst prognosis.

The study noted that while women generally had higher post-fracture outcomes than men, they were also at the next risk of experiencing fractures initially.

Overall, the researchers discovered that patients were at the very best risk of dying within the initial month after that they had a fracture. But doctors say that dying from a hip fracture is less concerning the bone break itself and more about what can occur next. Here’s what it’s essential know.

How Common Is It to Die After Breaking a Hip?

All osteoporosis-related fractures in older patients are related to lower five-year survival rates, study coauthor Jacques P. Brown, MDprofessor of medication at Laval University, told Verywell.

“But hip fracture is the worst-case scenario, where a minimum of 30% of individuals will die over a 12 months,” he said.

The first month is generally the toughest. Even so, “those that survive the primary month may have low survival rates over five years in comparison with the same-aged population,” Brown said.

Why Is Breaking a Hip So Deadly?

Hip fractures are particularly dangerous because they require a period of immobility, which might result in complications akin to blood clots, muscle atrophy, infections, and heart failure. Barbara Bawer, MDa family medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Verywell that restrictions on mobility increase the danger of depression, further deteriorating overall health outcomes.

But having a hip fracture can even signal that something else is occurring with an individual’s health, Alex Jahangir, MDprofessor of orthopedic surgery and director of the division of orthopedic trauma at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Verywell.

“If a younger person falls, they’re unlikely to interrupt a hip because they’re normally healthy,” he said. “But breaking a hip within the elderly is generally a results of comorbidities.”

When an older person breaks a hip, they’re normally bed-bound as they get better and health can “further degenerate,” Jahangir said. “They’re not going to be as strong, and balance might be harder to regain,” he said. “It starts this downward spiral of losing independence.”

A 30% mortality rate inside a 12 months is “pretty high,” Jahangir said, adding, “I don’t know many cancers which have that prime of a mortality rate inside a 12 months.”

What Might Predispose Someone to Poor Outcomes?

There are a couple of aspects that may raise the danger of a poor consequence after a fracture.

“Having underlying conditions prior to a fall would result in worsening outcomes,” Bawer said, listing heart failure, heart disease, osteoporosis, lung disease, and bleeding or clotting disorders as prime examples.

But Brown also discovered that most people who had hip fractures were discharged from the hospital with none variety of treatment to assist them avoid one other fracture in the longer term.

“About 40% of those people may have a second fracture over five years,” he said. “We must take motion when those persons are still within the hospital.”

Many hip fracture patients are discharged after 4 to 6 weeks, a time period that Brown considers a “window of opportunity” to forestall fractures.

“There have been plenty of recent drugs that, if used, we could prevent a minimum of half of those recurring fractures and have people living longer,” he said.

How Can You Improve Your Chances of a Good Outcome After Breaking a Hip?

Bawer stresses the importance of getting evaluated by a medical provider and receiving treatment should you suspect or know that you might have a hip fracture.

“Staying positive, attending regular follow-ups and physical therapy can be necessary,” she said. “Staying as energetic as possible is vital and as early as possible, in addition to eating a well-balanced food plan.”

Compression stockings may help reduce your risk of blood clots. Some people also profit from taking a baby aspirin, Bawer said.

“To prevent pressure ulcers and infections from occurring in the course of the initial immobility state, frequent changes in position every two hours is very important, in addition to a soft mattress,” she said.

You’ll also need to fall-proof your space as much as possible. For instance, make certain rugs are secure to avoid tripping.