Fall-Related Hip Fracture Predisposing and Precipitating Factors

Abstract: A physically inactive lifestyle is a predisposing risk factor for fall-related hip fracture. The circumstances, or precipitating factors, surrounding hip fractures are, however, not well understood, a factor of relevance for Swedish adults who have one of the highest hip fracture risks in the world. The aims of this thesis, therefore, were: to explore perceptions of physical activity (PA) among older adults, to describe the circumstances surrounding hip fracture events and the health characteristics of those who experience them.Four observational studies were conducted involving qualitative, epidemiological and mixed method designs. Participants in study I were recruited from community settings in Stockholm and Dublin (n=30). Studies II-IV (sample sizes, n=484, n=125, n=477) were based on a population-based sample of people admitted to Uppsala University hospital due to hip fracture. Study IV also incorporated the background population of Uppsala county in 2010 (n=117 494).Analysis of PA perceptions in study I revealed that PA which is functional nature is perceived as most meaningful among certain participants. The uptake of PA in later years was a means of creating a new self-identify and being active in outdoor environments was an important culture-specific motivator to PA among Swedish participants. Analysis of hip fractures patterns in studies II-III showed that: hip fractures among psychotropic drug users were twice as likely to occur during night-time hours compared to those occurring among people not receiving these drugs. Additionally, the fall-related hip fractures of community dwellers with poorest health and function tended to occur indoors during positional changes. In study IV, all categories of disease (according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) were seen to be positively associated with hip fracture.  Cardiovascular disease and previous injury (including previous fracture) posed the highest relative and absolute fracture risks.Detailed investigation of hip fracture circumstances reveal patterns in health and functional characteristics, which provide information regarding predisposing and precipitating factors for these events. This knowledge, in combination with findings regarding PA perceptions, can be used when identifying individuals at high risk for hip fracture and when tailoring fracture prevention at an individual level to those at risk.