Remarkably,29% of older people who break a hip die within a year.
That´s higher than the one-year death rate from stroke.
And unlike stroke deaths,the rate of hip fracture is rising-up from 24% found by researchers in the late 80´s.
Each year,approximately 300.000 Americans over 64 break their hips – three-quarters of them women.
Medicine has made some headway – improving surgical techniques and preventing many serious complications.
Ad osteoporosis treatment appears to be reducing the risk of fractures.
But there is still a log way to go.
Even among the healthiest elders, almost a quarter of those who suffer hip fractures die within a year.
Not nearly enough is known about why hip fracture is so destructive.Medicine has focused more on prevention than treatment.
Some research shows that up to half of all hip fracture patients who die within a month of a break could be saved with better care,if only medicine could figure out what better care is.