Rising incidence of hip fracture in Uppsala, 1965-1980

The frequency and incidence of hip fracture in persons aged 55 years and older in the county of Uppsala during the years 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1980 are reported. For every 5-year interval, the number of hip fractures increased by 21-25 per cent. The ratio of women to men changed from 3.8 in 1965 to 3.1 in 1980. Trochanteric fractures were more common during the later years. The ratio of femoral neck fractures to trochanteric fractures decreased from 1.8 to 1.1 between 1965 and 1980. The incidence of hip fracture in the investigated part of the population increased from 43 per 10 000 in 1965 to 65 in 1980. The age-specific incidence increased especially in the group aged 85 years and older, in which fractures of the femoral neck were three times and trochanteric fractures four times more common in 1980 than in 1965. This investigation shows that the incidence of hip fracture has increased, particularly in the higher age groups. If the age-specific incidences continue to rise in the higher age groups, the frequency of hip fractures will be doubled within a 20-year period.