Question 177 of 433
How common and how serious is it?
The short answer
About one in two women and one in four men over 50 will break a bone because of it. A hip fracture is among the most dangerous events in later life.
About one in five older adults who break a hip dies within a year, and up to one in three of the frailest, and many of the survivors never regain their independence. Spine fractures cause chronic pain, lost height, and a stooped posture that crowds the lungs. A woman’s risk of a hip fracture is roughly equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. It gets a fraction of the attention.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
OBSERVATIONAL — Older adults after fracture: substantial mortality and disability; not all excess deaths are caused by fracture alone.Evidence grade (draft mapping)CObservationalPart 13, Q177 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.