The real cost of Hip Fractures-Part#3

When researching the true costs of Hip fractures for the elderly a lot of these statistics, blew me away.

• Globally 20-25% of older adults will die within 1 Year after suffering a hip fracture
• That percentage reaches 70% if they have NOT had any surgery to repair that fracture
• Of those within the 20-25% range, the majority will die within 1-3months
• Men are 2x as likely to die from a hip fracture than women
• The 3 most common causes of death are Pneumonia, heart attack or stroke and kidney and multi-organ failure

Beyond the first year after a hip surgery, elderly pepople have to worry about many other potential complications for the next several years.   A hip fracture can reduce independence and sometimes shorten life. About half the people who have a hip fracture aren't able to regain the ability to live independently.

When hip fractures prevent movement for a long time, complications can include:

• Blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Bedsores
• Pneumonia
• Further loss of muscle mass, increasing the risk of falls and injuries
• Eventually Death

When a person’s functional mobility is severely reduced, they are less able to manage chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.  All of which are influenced by exercise and lean muscle mass. As a result, they are more likely to succumb earlier to these diseases than peers who retain their functional mobility.