THE FLUORIDATION OF DRINKING-WATER AND HIP FRACTURE HOSPITALIZATION RATES IN 2 CANADIAN COMMUNITIES

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to compare hip fracture hosp italization rates between a fluoridated and a non-fluoridated communit y in Alberta, Canada: Edmonton, which has had fluoridated drinking wat er since 1967, and Calgary, which considered fluoridation in 1991 but is currently revising this decision. Methods. Case subjects were all i ndividuals aged 45 years or older residing in Edmonton or Calgary who were admitted to hospitals in Alberta between January 1, 1981, and Dec ember 31, 1987, and who had a discharge diagnosis of hip fracture. Edm onton rates were compared with Calgary rates, with adjustment for age and sex using the Edmonton population as a standard. Results. The hip fracture hospitalization rate for Edmonton from 1981 through 1987 was 2.77 per 1000 person-years. The age-sex standardized rate for Calgary was 2.78 per 1000 person-years. No statistically significant differenc e was observed in the overall rate, and only minor differences were ob served within age and sex subgroups, with the Edmonton rates being hig her in males. Conclusions. These findings suggest that fluoridation of drinking water has no impact, neither beneficial nor deleterious, on the risk of hip fracture.