Incidence of hip fracture in western Sweden 1974-1982. Comparison of rural and urban populations.

Several epidemiological studies in northern Europe have shown that fractures in the elderly exceed the expected increase in the aging populations. We have compared the incidence of hip fracture in the rural county of Skaraborg and the city of Göteborg in Sweden. After adjustment for age changes in the population, the incidence of hip fracture in Skaraborg County was lower than in Göteborg during the period 1974-1984. The non-age-related increase in the incidence of fractures found in the city was not confirmed in the rural area.