Comorbidity and risk of infection among patients with hip fracture: a Danish population-based cohort study

N R Gadgaard*, C Varnum, R G H H Nelissen, C Vandenbroucke-Grauls, H T Sørensen, A B Pedersen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

UNLABELLED: Impact of comorbidity on infection risk among hip fracture patients is unclear. We found high incidence of infection. Comorbidity was an important risk factor for infection up to 1 year after surgery. Results indicates a need for additional investment in pre- and postoperative programs that assist patients with high comorbidity.

PURPOSE: Comorbidity level and incidence of infection have increased among older patients with hip fracture. The impact of comorbidity on infection risk is unclear. We conducted a cohort study examining the absolute and relative risks of infection in relation to comorbidity level among hip fracture patients.

METHODS: Utilizing Danish population-based medical registries, we identified 92,600 patients aged ≥ 65 years undergoing hip fracture surgery between 2004 and 2018. Comorbidity was categorized by Charlson comorbidity index scores (CCI): none (CCI = 0), moderate (CCI = 1-2), or severe (CCI ≥ 3). Primary outcome was any hospital-treated infection. Secondary outcomes were hospital-treated pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis, reoperation due to surgical-site infection (SSI), and a composite of any hospital- or community-treated infection. We calculated cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (aHRs) adjusted for age, sex, and surgery year, including 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Prevalence of moderate and severe comorbidity was 40% and 19%, respectively. Incidence of any hospital-treated infection increased with comorbidity level within 0-30 days (none 13% vs. severe 20%) and 0-365 days (none 22% vs. 37% severe). Patients with moderate and severe comorbidity, compared to no comorbidity, had aHRs of 1.3 (CI: 1.3-1.4) and 1.6 (CI: 1.5-1.7) within 0-30 days, and 1.4 (CI: 1.4-1.5) and 1.9 (CI: 1.9-2.0) within 0-365, respectively. Highest incidence was observed for any hospital- or community-treated infection (severe 72%) within 0-365 days. Highest aHR was observed for sepsis within 0-365 days (severe vs. none: 2.7 (CI: 2.4-2.9)).

CONCLUSION: Comorbidity is an important risk factor for infection up to 1 year after hip fracture surgery.

Original languageEnglish
JournalOsteoporosis International
Volume34
Issue10
Pages (from-to)1739-1749
Number of pages11
ISSN0937-941X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Keywords

  • Cohort
  • Comorbidity
  • Epidemiology
  • Hip fracture
  • Infections
  • Denmark/epidemiology
  • Sepsis/complications
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Hip Fractures/epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies

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