RISK-FACTORS FOR HIP FRACTURE - MEDOS STUDY - RESULTS OF THE TOULOUSECENTER

The development of preventive strategies for hip fractures requires be tter identification of risk factors. The MEDOS study was designed to s tudy prospectively the incidence of hip fracture in 14 centres from si x countries and characterise risk factors. At one centre (Toulouse), d ata were gathered from questionnaires completed by 386 cases of hip fr acture aged over 50 years and 848 age- and sex-matched controls over a 12-month period. Of the 935 variables of the MEDOS questionnaire, 235 , grouped into 56 items, were statistically analysed. Odds, ratios (an d 95% confidence intervals) were estimated for each variable from a mu ltiple stepwise logistic regression model. The population comprised 19 .2% men and 80.8% women, with a mean age of 80 +/- 8.8 years; 80% were living in an urban area and 76% with their family. Of the 17 signific ant variables, moderate excess weight and a high nutritional intake of calcium were associated with a decreased risk of hip fracture. Loss o f autonomy, a higher height than normal (>1SD), and a history of previ ous fractures significantly increased the risk of fracture. Interestin gly, all these variables accounted for only 18% of the risk of hip fra cture.