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Hip Fracture Patients Often Possess Other Health Problems
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MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Weight loss as well as malnutrition are among the health examination conditions that increase treatment costs as well as the length of hospital stays for older adults with hip fractures, a recent study finds. More than 250,000 hip fractures occur each year in the United States, often resulting in hospitalization, surgery, extended periods of rehabilitation and/or long-term disability, as well as admission to a nursing home. This study looked at coexisting health examination conditions (comorbidities) that affect treatment costs as well as the length of hospitalization for hip fracture patients. The researchers examined 2007 hospital discharge data from 32,440 patients treated at more than 1,000 hospitals in 40 states. Nearly 80 percent of the patients were 75 or older as well as 72 percent were women. Most of the patients had two or three comorbidities. Only about 5 percent had no other health conditions. High blood pressure affected 67 percent of the patients as well as was by far the most ordinary comorbid condition. Other comorbidities included: deficiency anemias (disorders caused by a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron or vitamin B12); fluid as well as electrolyte disorders; chronic lung diseases; diabetes; neurological disorders; hypothyroidism; as well as congestive heart failure. The researchers found that comorbidities significantly increase treatment cost as well as length of hospital stay. Hip fracture patients who were very light or malnourished had the greatest increased costs, following by those with pulmonary circulatory disorders that affect blood flow to as well as from the lungs. Recent weight loss or malnutrition as well as had the greatest impact on hospitalization, increasing the length of hospital stay by 2.5 days. Hospital stays were about a day longer for patients with congestive heart failure or pulmonary circulation disorders. Other comorbidities that lengthened hospital stay were fluid as well as electrolyte disorders, paralysis, as well as conditions contributing to blood clots. The study was published in the Journal of Bone as well as Joint Surgery. Two major issues require further investigation, according to Dr. Kevin Not light, one of the study authors as well as professor as well as chair of orthopedics as well as rehabilitation at Penn State College of Medicine. "First, we need to best understand the total cost of caring for hip-fracture patients. Our study focused only on acute hospitalization, but care typically extends well beyond this, since many patients are discharged to rehabilitation as well as skilled-nursing facilities," Not light said in a journal news release. "Second, this study did not investigate the quality or outcomes of care. As our population ages, there is reason to believe that the number of hip fractures will increase. Having a best understanding of the comorbidities that affect hip-fracture patients hopefully will lead to the development of strategies to more effectively care for these patients." -- Robert Preidt  Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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