Minimal trauma hip fracture hospitalisations among older Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: A retrospective population-based cohort study

Objectives: To compare minimal trauma hip fractures (MTHF) between older Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Methods: Epidemiological study of retrospective New South Wales hospitalisation data (2005-2016) for MTHF among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians over 40 years of age.

Results: Estimated age-standardised rates of MTHF were lower among Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous Australians (142.2 vs. 161.7 per 100,000) with a direct standardised rate ratio of 0.887 (95%CI 0.78-0.99, p = 0.031). However, for both male and female Indigenous Australians, MTHF occur at a younger age than in non-Indigenous Australians (age 40-74: 52% vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Proportions of MTHF are higher among women and were almost double among rural Indigenous Australians compared with rural non-Indigenous Australians (59% vs. 31%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: New South Wales Hospitalisation data showed that estimated age-standardised rates of MTHF appear lower among Indigenous Australians than in non-Indigenous Australians but also occur at a younger age for Indigenous people. MTHF are more common among rural Indigenous Australians and women.