Quality of life and factors that affect osteoporotic hip fracture patients in Thailand

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over the first year after osteoporotic hip fracture and to identify the factors associated with HRQoL in Police General Hospital in Thailand. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted. 139 subjects who had osteoporotic hip fracture were recruited, which they will be assessed during the preinjury recall and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the fracture. HRQoL was measured as Thailand health state utility values (THSUVs), which derived from EuroQol-5-Dimension-3-Level. Factors associated with the change in QoL were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-six patients with a hip fracture were included for analysis. Their mean age was 82 ± 11 years old. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of QoL score and EQ VAS at 12-month follow-up period were lower than before the fracture ([0.68 ± 0.105 vs. 0.55 ± 0.183] and [85 ± 10.5 vs. 79 ± 19.2]). The mean ± SD of QoL score and EQ VAS, compared before and after the fracture was estimated at −0.13 ± 0.164 and −6 ± 14.7 (P = 0.01). The positive influences on the change in QoL score were present in the subject, who are younger than 80 years old, had normal or high body mass index (BMI), and had operative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporotic hip fractures incurred substantial loss in HRQoL which was markedly impaired at first 3 months after hip fracture and after that HRQoL was improved but did not return to prefracture levels. So primary prevention of fall is more important. The changes in HRQoL, was influenced by age, BMI, and operative treatment.