engleski

Sex differences in hip fracture in Croatia

Background: We describe the differences observed in the incidence of hip fracture and consequent mortality, number of hospital days, and average length of hospital stay according to sex in Croatia in 1999. Methods: The retrospective study included the entire population of Croatia. The Hospital Discharge Registry at the Croatian Institute of Public Health was used as the source of data. For the purpose of analysis, the subjects were divided in groups according to their sex and age (male, female ; 0-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75 years of age and older). Results: Hip fracture incidence in Croatia in 1999 was higher in women, i.e., female-to-male ratio for the group older than 45 was 2.25 in 1999. The mortality rates were higher for women, whereas hip fracture incidence was higher for men in groups of 0-44, 45-49, 50-54 and 55-59 years of age. Female-to-male ratio in the number of hospital days due to hip fracture was 2.26 for patients older than 45. The average length of hospital stay was similar for both sexes: 19.7 for men, and 19, 3 for women. Conclusion: Hip fracture in an important public health problem in Croatia. There is a strong need for effective public health strategies that would raise the public awareness of osteoporosis as the major cause of hip fractures, and reduce morbidity and mortality of the disease in Croatia.

Croatia; hip fracture; hospitalization; osteoporosis; sex differences

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