Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fracture epidemiology in adults is changing but there is very little information about the rate of change or whether the change affects males and females equally.
METHODS: We have compared fracture incidence in two similar populations 50-60 years apart. A study of fractures in Dundee, Scotland and Oxford, England, in 1954-1958, was compared with a similar cohort of fractures in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2010-2011. Fracture incidence in patients >35 years was recorded in both time periods.
RESULTS: The incidence of fractures increased by 50% between the two time periods, although the increase in males was only 5% compared with 85% in females. The spectrum of fractures has changed considerably, and there has been an increase in the incidence of both fragility and non-fragility fractures. Analysis showed an increased incidence of fall-related fractures in all age groups in both males and females.
INTERPRETATION: There has been a substantial change in the incidence of fractures in the last 50-60 years. These have been caused by greater longevity and by considerable social and economic changes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 30-4 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Scottish Medical Journal |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2014 |
Keywords
- Accidental Falls
- Adult
- Age Distribution
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Female
- Fractures, Bone/epidemiology
- Frail Elderly
- History, 20th Century
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Scotland/epidemiology
- Sex Distribution