Differences in the baseline characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with hip fractures depending on their pre-fracture place of residence: the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (RNFC) cohort

Purpose One in four hip fracture patients comes from an aged care facility. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of these subjects with their community-dwelling counterparts at baseline, during hospitalization and 1-month post-fracture. Methods We analyzed data from a cohort of older adults admitted with hip fractures to 75 Spanish hospitals, collected prospectively in the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry between 2016 and 2018. We classified participants according to pre-fracture residence: community dwellers vs. aged care facilities residents. We collected demographic records at baseline, along with variables relating to in-hospital evolution and discharge to geriatric rehabilitation units. Patients or relatives were interviewed at 1-month follow-up. Results Out of 18,262 patients, 4,422 (24.2%) lived in aged care facilities. Aged care facilities residents were older (median age: 89 vs. 86 years), less mobile (inability to walk independently: 20.8% vs. 9.4%) and had more cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer's SPMSQ > 3, 75.3% vs. 34.8%). They were more likely to receive conservative treatment (5.4% vs. 2.0%) and less likely to be mobilized early (58.2% vs. 63.0%). At discharge, they received less vitamin D supplements (68.5% vs. 72.4%), less anti-osteoporotic medication (29.3% vs. 44.3%), and were referred to geriatric rehabilitation units less frequently (5.4% vs. 27.5%). One-month post-fracture, 45% of aged care facilities residents compared to 28% of community dwellers experienced a severe gait decline. Aged care facilities residents had a higher one-month mortality (10.6% vs. 6.8%). Conclusion Hip fracture patients from aged care facilities are more vulnerable than their community-dwelling peers and are managed differently both during hospitalization and at discharge. Gait decline is disproportionately higher among those admitted from aged care. Key summary pointsAim Comparing the characteristics of hip fracture patients as per their pre-fracture place of residence, patients from aged care facilities vs. community dwellers, at baseline, during hospitalization and 1-month post-fracture in 75 hospitals in Spain. Findings The results suggest that their baseline situation, the care process during hospitalization and the therapeutic recommendations at discharge are all different, and that at 1-month follow-up, older adults admitted from aged care facilities fare disproportionately worse. Message New studies are needed to evaluate whether a common protocol emphasizing the characteristics of each group can reduce the differences regarding post-fracture decline of ambulatory status between individuals from aged care facilities and community dwellers.