As we age the health of our bones, particularly hips, becomes increasingly fragile. Falls of elderly persons that result in hip fractures can be debilitating short-term and result in less independence long-term. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 300,000 people aged 65 and older in the U.S. suffer from hip fractures annually. More than 95 percent of these injuries are due to falls, particularly sideways tumbles. Women make up 75 percent of all hip fracture patients and more often have osteoporosis than their male counterparts.
A study published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine was based on the Framingham Study which analyzed 4,918 men and 5,634 women from the 1970s to 2010. It showed interesting results. The rates of hip fracture during the period of January 1, 1970 and December 31, 2010 declined by 4.4 percent each year across the 40-year study period. This decrease in hip fractures was seen in both men and women.
Also during that time, the rate of smoking in participants decreased from 38 percent in the 1970s to 15 percent from 2006-2010. Likewise, the rate of heavy drinking—defined as three or more drinks each day—also decreased from 7 percent to 4.5 percent. Timothy Bhattacharyya, M.D., was the head researcher in this study and was encouraged by the results. Continued research is being conducted to learn more about these lifestyle changes and the bone health connection.
