Hip Fractures in Elderly Individuals Did Not Decrease during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Insights from the 2015 and 2020 Niigata Prefecture Fragility Hip Fracture Surveys

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The incidence of osteoporotic hip fractures in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, has been studied approximately every 5 years since 1985. In 2020, as in previous surveys, a prefecture-wide survey was initiated as planned; however, the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began simultaneously. This study aimed to compare the results of the 2015 and 2020 Niigata Prefecture Fragility Hip Fracture Surveys to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the occurrence and treatment of proximal femoral fractures throughout Niigata Prefecture. Materials and Methods: In this study, data from the 2015 and 2020 Niigata Prefecture Fragility Hip Fracture Surveys were used. Data were obtained from registration forms returned by hospitals and clinics in Niigata Prefecture for patients living therein who were diagnosed with osteoporotic hip fractures over a 1-year period in 2015 and 2020. Results: In Niigata Prefecture, the total annual number of fractures increased from 3181 in 2015 to 3369 in 2020, whereas the age-adjusted fracture rate decreased. Regarding the location of the fractures, the proportion of outdoor fractures was lower than that of indoor fractures. The proportion of outdoor fractures decreased over the year as a whole, but in particular, the proportion of outdoor fractures decreased significantly under the issued emergency declarations. The most common reasons for delayed surgery related to COVID-19 were “waiting for PCR results” and “quarantine for fever,” accounting for approximately 1.9% of all causes. Conclusions: In Niigata Prefecture, Japan, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number and rate of fractures was minuscule. The proportion of indoor fractures to outdoor fractures increased during the emergency declaration period. Considering that the number of fragility fractures remains the same during an infectious disease pandemic such as COVID-19, it is necessary to ensure that healthcare resources are available to deal with them.