HIP-FRACTURES IN NORDIC CITIES - DIFFERENCE IN INCIDENCE

All new hip fractures referred to hospital in 1989 were recorded in se ven urban populations from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The to tal population at risk (50 years and older) was 588 427, and 4075 frac tures were observed (76.5 % women). In all cities an age-dependent inc rease in incidence was found, and the female incidence was highest. Wh en comparing the incidence rates after direct standardization, signifi cant differences in hip fracture incidence were found between the citi es for both women and men. The standardized relative rates seemed to d ecrease when moving south and east with the lowest rates found in Tamp ere, Finland. This indicates that factors which differ even between ur ban populations within a restricted geographical region may have an im portant impact on hip fracture incidence.