[Epidemiology of proximal femoral fractures in La Plata, Argentina].

The epidemiology of proximal femur fractures (FXf) was studied in the city of La Plata, Argentina. At the time of the study the total population was 288,000 inhabitants and 73,900 (30,700 men and 43,200 women) were 50 years of age and over (Table 1). From May 1, 1989 to April 30, 1990 all the patients admitted in local hospitals with FXf were personally interviewed by one of the authors. Patients living outside the city of La Plata or fractures due to metastatic or Paget disease were excluded. During the period of the study 195 patients with FXf (164 women and 31 men) were registered. The median of age was 80 years in females (range 50 to 96) and 77 years of age (range 50 to 93) in males. The incidence of FXf in women 50 years of age and over was 379.4/100,000 inhabitants and in men 101.0/100,000 inhabitants. The female/male ratio was 3.76 (Table 1). The number of FXf was higher in winter than in summer. (Figure 1). Table 3 indicates the incidence of FXf found in several studies performed in different geographical areas. In females the incidence was similar to that observed in other caucasian populations. The female/male ratio found in the present study is the highest recorded in the literature. This is the first epidemiologic study of osteoporosis performed in Argentina. Further studies should ascertain the low incidence found in males as well as the frequency of osteoporosis in other areas of the country that extend from latitude 22 degrees S to 54 degrees S.