Low Levels of Hemoglobin at Admission Are Associated With Increased 30-Day Mortality in Patients With Hip Fracture

Katrine Praetorius, Christian M Madsen, Bo Abrahamsen, Henrik L Jørgensen, Jes B Lauritzen, Anne Sofie B Laulund

Abstract

Introduction: Previous smaller studies suggest that anemia is a risk factor for mortality in patients with hip fracture. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the correlation between hemoglobin at admission with 30-day mortality following a hip fracture in a large-scale study. Patients and Methods: From January 1996 to December 2012, all patients with hip fracture (>60 years of age) admitted to Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, were identified from a local hip fracture database. We excluded conservatively treated patients and patients who died preoperatively. Results: Seven thousand four hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with hip fracture were identified. Of those 7319 had a hemoglobin measurement on admission and were thus eligible for further analysis. Mean hemoglobin for patients alive at 30 days was 7.6 (standard deviation [SD]: 1.0) and for deceased patients 7.4 (SD: 1.1), P <.0001. Mean age was 82.6 years (SD: 8.5), and 76.5% of the population were female (Nfemales = 5600). The 30-day mortality decreases for every increase in hemoglobin of 1.0 mmol/L in a univariate analysis (P <.0001). The hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for 30-day mortality in patients with anemia (<7.3 mmol/L for females and <8.3 mmol/L for males; Nanemic = 3235) was 1.66 (CI: 1.43-1.91, P <.0001). Adjusting for age, type of fracture, gender, and comorbidities (Charlson score) slightly attenuated the risk estimate (HR: 1.21, CI: 1.03-1.41, P =.02). Conclusion: This study demonstrates increased 30-day mortality in patients with low hemoglobin at admission, even after adjusting for comorbidities.

Original languageEnglish
JournalGeriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation
Volume7
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)115-20
Number of pages6
ISSN2151-4585
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2016

Keywords

  • Journal Article

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