Hip fractures and outcome in elderly patients in a tertiary care hospital of Sri Lanka

This study assessed how elderly patients with hip fractures were affected by factors such as comorbidities, fracture type, treatments, complications, and health-related quality of life. The majority of participants had surgery for their fracture with good prognoses despite having comorbidities. Reductions in the general level of activities related to daily living were proportionately higher even after one year.

Hip fractures in older adults are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, loss of independence, and financial burdens. In this study, we assessed how these effects were influenced by factors such as comorbidities, fracture type, treatment methods, complications, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in elderly patients presented with hip fractures.

A prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months on all patients with fall and hip fractures above 65 years of age that presented to the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) of Provincial General Hospital Kurunegala. The subjects were followed up with for up to 1 year. Data forms were made according to the Charlson comorbidity index, the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment tool, and the International Society of Fracture Repair-International Osteoporosis Foundation (ISFR-IOF)) hip fracture outcome working group recommendations. Direct questions from these assessment guides were not used in data collection. Being able to walk independently and return to a premorbid state following surgery was considered a good outcome.

There were 117 patients (mean age 78 (± 7.31) years); 80% were female. Out of them, 81% had comorbidities without significant morbidity or mortality during surgery. Ninety-six (88%) had surgery for their fracture with good prognoses (p<0.05) and better outcomes due to early surgery (p=0.008). Independent walking was significantly better in intracapsular fractures than extracapsular fractures (p<0.05). Patients with post-surgical complications had significant mortality (p<0.001). Ninety-nine per cent, 81%, and 75% of patients remained dependent 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year following surgery, respectively. HRQoL was impaired in 3 months (95% SF, 12<50) and in 1 year (78.6% SF, 12 <50) following surgery. The mortality during admission, in 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year was 8.5% (10), 14.5% (17), 21.3% (25), and 35% (41), respectively.

A greater majority of hip fracture victims were female. Prognoses were good after surgery irrespective of the comorbidities with better outcomes in early surgery. Independent walking was significantly better in intracapsular fractures than extracapsular fractures. Patients with post-surgical complications had significant mortality. Significant loss of HRQoL increased in patients even after surgery, which resulted in an increased burden to families.