Hip fracture in women. Incidence, in-hospital mortality, and five-year survival probabilities in members of a prepaid health plan.

The problem of hip fracture is especially serious for women, who live longer than men and who have a higher risk of the condition. Data on women older than 49 years enrolled in a prepaid medical care program were analyzed to determine the incidence of hospitalization for hip fracture, in-hospital death rate, and five-year probability of survival after hip fracture. The cumulative lifetime probability of hip fracture for women alive at age 50 years was calculated, taking into account current estimates of survival in women. As in other studies, the incidence of hip fracture increased exponentially with age. In-hospital death rate after hip fracture was low in this population (3.7%). Survival after hip fracture was correlated with age at hospitalization. About 12% of women alive at age 50 years will be hospitalized for a hip fracture at least once before they die. In this population, the incidence of hospitalization, in-hospital death rate, and lifetime probability of hip fracture were lower than in some other reports.