Hip fracture risk increases for spouses of hip fracture patients – new findings

Spouses of people who have experienced a hip fracture have a greater risk of hip fracture themselves, according to a new study.

Medical records for couples married for at least five years, who had been born between 1902 and 1942 were analysed.

Hip fractures occurred in spouses of 4,212 married couples. Husbands and wives of people who had suffered a hip fracture were found to be at increased risk of hip fracture themselves.

The research team explain their findings by suggesting that people usually partner with those who are similar in terms of education level, religion and other socioeconomic factors. We tend to marry those of a similar height and weight who do the same level of physical activity and have similar habits (such as smoking and drinking) all of which impact on the risk of hip fracture.

Other factors that contributed to the risk included the type of house the couple lived in and the area, as elderly people in rural areas tend to have a lower risk for hip fracture than those living in cities.

“This is an interesting finding,” says Sarah Leyland, osteoporosis nurse consultant at the National Osteoporosis Society. “Hip fractures can be debilitating and life changing and anything which furthers our understanding of risk factors, however unusual, is a welcome development.”

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