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January 24th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) — Weight loss and malnutrition are
among the medical conditions that increase treatment costs and the length
of hospital stays for older adults with hip fractures, a new study
finds.
More than 250,000 hip fractures occur each year in the United States,
often resulting in hospitalization, surgery, extended periods of
rehabilitation and/or long-term disability, and admission to a nursing
home.
This study looked at coexisting medical conditions (comorbidities) that
affect treatment costs and the length of hospitalization for hip fracture
patients. The researchers examined 2007 hospital discharge data from
32,440 patients treated at more than 1,000 hospitals in 40 states. Nearly
80 percent of the patients were 75 or older and 72 percent were women.
Most of the patients had two or three comorbidities. Only about 5
percent had no other health conditions.
High blood pressure affected 67 percent of the patients and was by far the
most common comorbid condition.
Other comorbidities included: deficiency anemias (disorders caused by a
lack of certain nutrients, such as iron or vitamin B12); fluid and
electrolyte disorders; chronic lung diseases; diabetes; neurological
disorders; hypothyroidism; and congestive heart failure.
The researchers found that comorbidities significantly increase
treatment cost and length of hospital stay. Hip fracture patients who were
very thin or malnourished had the greatest increased costs, following by
those with pulmonary circulatory disorders that affect blood flow to and
from the lungs.
Recent weight loss or malnutrition also had the greatest impact on
hospitalization, increasing the length of hospital stay by 2.5 days.
Hospital stays were about a day longer for patients with congestive heart
failure or pulmonary circulation disorders.
Other comorbidities that lengthened hospital stay were fluid and
electrolyte disorders, paralysis, and conditions contributing to blood
clots.
The study was published in the Journal of Bone and Joint
Surgery.
Two major issues require further investigation, according to Dr. Kevin
Black, one of the study authors and professor and chair of orthopedics and
rehabilitation at Penn State College of Medicine.
“First, we need to better understand the total cost of caring for
hip-fracture patients. Our study focused only on acute hospitalization,
but care typically extends well beyond this, since many patients are
discharged to rehabilitation and skilled-nursing facilities,” Black said
in a journal news release.
“Second, this study did not investigate the quality or outcomes of
care. As our population ages, there is reason to believe that the number
of hip fractures will increase. Having a better understanding of the
comorbidities that affect hip-fracture patients hopefully will lead to the
development of strategies to more effectively care for these
patients.”
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about hip fractures among older adults.
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