Hip Fracture Following a Fall Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2Pat Matthews Academic School of Nursing, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Israel
Background:
Little is known regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of hip fractures among older adults
Objectives:
We aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with a hip fracture following a fall during the COVID-19 pandemic year and during the year that preceded the pandemic.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of older patients with hip fracture following a fall, who had undergone surgery for hip fracture repair in a major 495-bed hospital located in northern central Israel. Characteristics of patients who had been hospitalized in 2020 (n = 136) and in 2019 (n = 151) were compared.
Results:
During the pandemic year, patients were less likely to fall in a nursing home, less likely to have muscle or balance problems, and less likely to have a history of falls and fractures following a fall. Moreover, the average length of stay (LOS) was shorter, while the average time from the injury to hospitalization was longer. Patients were less likely to have acquired a postoperative infection or to have died. During the pandemic year, only postoperative infection was associated with prolonged LOS.
Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic may have had a positive impact on the behavior of older adults as well as on the management of hip fracture patients. However, healthcare providers should be aware of the possible reluctance to seek care during a pandemic. Moreover, further research on the impact of the change in management during COVID-19 on hip fracture patients` survival is warranted.