The Resource Use Related to Hip Fractures Based on Data from ICUROS

The International Costs and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic fractures Study (ICUROS) is an ongoing 18 months prospective observational study with the objective of estimating resource use and health related quality of life related to osteoporotic fractures. This study aims to describe the resource utilization for hip fractures (sustained during 2007-2012) pooled from 10 countries: Australia, Austria, Estonia, France, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and the UK. Patients studied were ≥ 50 years and lived at home prior to fracture. Data were collected through patient interviews and review of medical records: at baseline and 4, 12, and 18 months after fracture. Only resource use related to the fracture event was collected. There were 1,795, 1,435, 1,256 patients available for analysis at 4, 12 and 18 months follow-up, respectively. The mean age (±SD) at fracture was 77±10 years and 79% were women. 96% of patients were hospitalized. Mean hospital length of stay (LoS) (±SD) was 17.2±20.4 days during months 0-4 and 1.2±6.8 during months 5-18. Mean LoS varied from 9.3 days to 26.5 days during months 0-4 across countries. The mean number of physician visits (±SD) was 2.8±3.1 during months 0-4 and 2.5±5.6 between months 5-18. The mean number of nurse visits (±SD) was 2.4±9.6 and 3.8±31.9 during corresponding periods, respectively. During months 0-4, 65% of patients used analgesics, 41% calcium/vitamin D, and 27% pharmacological interventions for osteoporosis. The respective uptakes for months 5-18 were 47%, 46% and 25%. Almost all patients were hospitalized after fracture and the mean number of inpatient days is high, although there is a large variation. The vast majority of health care consumption in relation to fracture occurs during the first 4 months but substantial consumption persists up to 18 months after fracture.