Hip fracture in the elderly One-year mortality risk factors in non-operated patients

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with increased mortality in elderly patients not operated after suffering hip fracture. Materials and methods: A one-year prospective study in 111 patients suffering hip fracture and not operated. The inclusion criteria were age over 60 years, not suffering a pathological fracture and not dying during hospital stay. All were followed for one year or until death. The risk factors analysed in the study were: age, sex, general health condition, mental impairment, performance status prior to the fracture and type of fracture. Results: The main risk factor was the general condition impaired before the fracture. The age over 83 years and mental impairment were borderline statistically significant risk factors (p<0.05). Only 42 patients (37.8%) lived at one year of the fracture. Conclusions: Conservative management of hip fractures involves a high mortality at one year of the fracture, the previous general condition being the primary risk factor.