Incidence of proximal femur fracture in an urbanized community in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Osteoporosis, an age-related disorder, is a major contributor to bone fractures among the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. Variable incidence have been reported from different geographical areas, however, none as yet from Saudi Arabia. We have reviewed case records of Saudi residents of Riyadh city, who were 40 years or older and who were admitted to any of the local acute-care hospitals over a period of 12 months (July 1990–June 1991) with a diagnosis of proximal femur fracture (PFF). Of these, 103 were diagnosed with PFF; 52 (50%) were male and 51 (50%) were female. Eighty-eight (85%) patients reported mild trauma as the precipitating cause for their fracture (41 males and 47 females). The median and mean (SD) age of all patients were 75 and 73 (14) years, respectively, with no significant difference between male and female patients. The incidence per 100,000 of PFF for males in age groups 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and over 70 years was 7, 22, 36, and 251, respectively; the incidence per 100,000 for females in the same age groups was 4.5, 14.6, 7.9, and 394, respectively. The female:male ratios for the same age groups were 0.6, 0.7, 2.2, and 1.6. The incidence of PFF for male and female patients over the age of 50 years was 71 and 100, respectively, with a female:male ratio of 1:4. The anticipated incidence of osteoporotic fracture in Saudi Arabia is expected to be higher than the present one with the population's anticipated increase in life expectancy. It is concluded that there is a need to confirm and compare the present incidence with other regions of Saudi Arabia through multi-center studies for the incidence of PFF, as well as a need for periodic studies for monitoring the incidence of PFF over the ensuing years; this is essential for planning prevention strategy for osteoporotic-related fractures.