NAPA Physicians Spearhead Study on Cause and Timing of Hip Fractures in Seniors

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 30, 2017 -- North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) announced today that the results of a preliminary study conducted by lead author Jason R. Guercio, M.D., M.B.A. and co-authors John-Robert La Porta, M.D., Alice A. Di Francesco, B.S., and Sharon Weintraub, M.D. revealed that, contrary to popular belief, the majority of senior falls occur during warm months, and a greater number of falls happen indoors rather than out. The results were presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2017 annual meeting in San Francisco on October 23, 2017 and reported both in U.S. News & World Report https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2017-10-23/ditch-the-throw-rugs-seniors and in The Times of UK  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/older-people-less-at-risk-of-falls-in-winter-5mt9khpbd.

The study followed 544 patients who suffered hip fractures from 2013-2016 and was conducted at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain where Dr. Guercio practices. The study tracked the time of year in which the fracture occurred and whether it took place indoors or outdoors. “Cold” months were defined as November 1 through April 30, and “warm” months were defined as May 1 through October 31.

“Falls are one of the most common health concerns facing the elderly today,” said Dr. Guercio, an anesthesiologist with North American Partners in Anesthesia. “Falls leading to fracture can result in disability and even death. Understanding the risk factors for fractures can help to focus efforts on decreasing them and guide resources and appropriate interventions to prevent them.”

While the incidence of fractures occurred at a fairly similar rate throughout the year, the authors found that 76.3 percent of hip fractures occurred indoors, while only 23.6 percent happened outdoors. Moreover, in excess of 60 percent of outdoor fractures and 56 percent of indoor fractures happened during warm months. This belies the commonly held view that snow and ice pose the greatest risk to seniors living in cold climates as it relates to falls.

The most common causes for hip fracture overall was tripping over an obstacle (43.3 percent for indoor and 57.1 percent for outdoor). Inside homes, the most common obstacle appeared to be throw rugs, followed by falling out of bed. For outdoor fractures, the leading causes after tripping were being struck by or falling from a vehicle or falling down stairs.

“It is counterintuitive that the risk for hip fracture would be higher in warm months, as ice and snow would appear to be significant fall risks,” said Dr. Guercio. “Given the results of this study, it appears that efforts to decrease fall risk among the elderly living in cold climates should not be preferentially aimed at preventing outdoor fractures in winter, but should focus on conditions present throughout the year, and most importantly on mitigating indoor risk.” 

About North American Partners in Anesthesia
As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. In three decades, NAPA has grown to become the nation’s leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management company, serving more than one million patients annually in more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast. For more information, please visit NAPAanesthesia.com.

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