Hip fractures in the aged represent a major public health burden, with secular trends on its incidence showing divergent results for age and sex, in different regions. In Portugal the hip fracture incidence in the elderly population is poorly analysed and this population study aims to describe and analyse hip fractures tendencies in the Portuguese elderly population.

Describe and analyse hip fractures tendencies in the Portuguese elderly population.

All Portuguese patients 65 years and above, that sustained a hip fractures from 2005 to 2013 were included using the national hospital discharge register. Crude incidences (IR) per 100,000 person years were analysed. Estimate of age-sex-adjusted changes was determined (incidence rate ratios, IRRs).

One hundred and one thousand four hundred and thirty-six patients admitted from 2005 to 2013 were included, with an incidence adjusted for age (>65 years) of about 597 fractures 100,000 person year and a progressive increase in the number of admissions per year over the period analysed. Twenty-five thousand nine hundred and eleven (25.5%) of all patients were male, with an incidence adjusted for age and sex of 366 fractures 100,000 men year and 451 fractures 100,000 women year. The mean age at admission was 79.32 (±12.33) years, with a progressive aging of the admitted patients over the analysed period. Women had mean older ages than men (p<0.05). Mean hospitalization time was 14.77 (±18.95) days. The in-hospital global mortality rate was 5.6%, and although variable, tended to decrease in the studied time span.

In contrast to other countries, this study observed no leveling-off or downward trend of hip fracture incidence from 2005 to 2013 in the Portuguese elderly population. These fractures are more common in females that are older at admission. Further studies on the underlying causes are needed to plan effective hip fracture reduction programmes.