Functional, social-demographic and epidemiological profile of elderly hospitalized for hip fracture

Abstract

The hip fracture (HF) is related to high rates of morbidity and a major impact on the functional capacity of the elderly. The aim of the study was to outline the functional profile of elderly patients hospitalized for HF analyzing kinds of fractures, the causal mechanism and the physical and functional prior to the event. This is an observational study, quantitative, cross-sectional whose participants were patients hospitalized for FPF. A registry file was used to collect sociodemographic data. The degree of functional independence and the ability to walk prior to the HF, respectively were evaluated by the Barthel Index, the Pfeffer questionnaire and the Functional Classification of the March Modified. The sample consisted of 32 elderly people with an average age of 79 (± 9.5) years and a predominance of females (71.8%), mulatto (43.8%) and low education. Most lived alone and did not use any medication. Participants elderly, prior to fracture, were independent for basic activities of daily living (ADL), dependent for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and do not use for locomotion devices. Falls were the leading cause of HF, the most prevalent the femoral neck fracture (FNF) and the trochanteric fracture (TF). Comorbidities, medications, sociodemographic factors, gait impairment and functional dependency, they may be associated with occurrence of HF in the elderly.