Hip fractures are profound threat to quality of life

Eighty per cent of women said that they would rather be dead than admitted to a nursing home after a hip fracture in an interview study performed by Salkeld et al (p 341). Because of the likely increase in the incidence of hip fracture as the population ages the authors used time trade off techniques to ask 194 women in their 80s and 90s living independently their views on the limitations that hip fractures bring. The women thought that at their age death was expected and preferable to a state of health that meant losing their home, independence, and quality of life.

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Relevant Article

Quality of life related to fear of falling and hip fracture in older women: a time trade off study • Commentary: Older people's perspectives on life after hip fractures

G Salkeld, I D Cameron, R G Cumming, S Easter, J Seymour, S E Kurrle, S Quine, Shanthi N Ameratunga, and Paul M Brown
BMJ 2000 320: 341-346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]