Crude incidence rates for hip fractures in individuals aged 50 and above in Lebanon were determined using data from the national hip fracture registry. For the years 2006-2008, crude rates varied between 164 and 188/100,000 for females and between 88 and 106 per 100,000 for males. Using the US 2000 white population as a reference, the calculated age-standardized rates were closest to rates derived for southern Europe.
Introduction: Owing to the demographic explosion, it is projected that the rates of hip fractures would increase the most in the Middle East and Asia. Few are the population-based studies investigating the incidence of hip fractures in the region.
Methods: Using the Ministry of Health registry data, this population-based study evaluated the incidence of hip fractures in individuals aged 50 and above in Lebanon for the years 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Results: Hip fracture crude incidence rates varied across the years between 164 and 188 per 100,000 for females and between 88 and 106 per 100,000 for males, with a female/male ratio of 1.6-2.1. The overall mean age (SD) for hip fractures was 75.9 (9.2), 76.8 (9.0), and 77.0 (9.9) years in females in 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively, and 74.4 (11.6), 76.3 (10.3), and 74.0 (12.1) years in males, respectively. Using the US 2000 white population as a reference, the age-standardized rates were 370.4, 335.1, and 329.0 for females and 109.7, 134.1, and 128.7 for males, for the years 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively.
Conclusions: The hip fracture age-standardized incidence rates in the Lebanese subjects receiving Ministry of Health coverage were lower than those found in northern Europe and the US and closest to rates derived for southern Europe.