The changing epidemiology of fall-related fractures in adults

There has been very little analysis of the epidemiology of adult fall-related fractures outwith the osteoporotic population. We have analysed all in-patient and out-patient fall-related fractures in a one-year period in a defined population and documented their epidemiology. The overall prevalence of non-spinal fall-related fractures is 63.1% with 40.7% and 82.7% occurring in males and females respectively. In females aged 20-29 years >50% of fractures follow falls, the equivalent age range in males being 50-59 years. Analysis of fall-related fractures in two one-year periods in 2000 and 2010/11 shows a significant increase in almost all age ranges up to 60-69 years with a decreased incidence in 90+ patients. In males there is a significant increase in 30-39 year males but also in males >80 years. In females the greatest increase in incidence is in 16-19 year females but all age ranges show a significant increase up to 60-69 years. There is a decreased incidence in 90+ females. The reasons for the increase in the incidence of fall-related are multifactorial but they are probably contributed to by the inherently weaker bone of younger females and by the increased incidence of conditions such as obesity and diabetes. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.