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- Title
Impact of COVID-19 on Fracture Incidence in Germany: A Comparative Age and Gender Analysis of Pre- and Post-Outbreak Periods.
- Authors
Heinz, Tizian; Wild, Moritz; Eidmann, Annette; Weißenberger, Manuel; Rak, Dominik; Nedopil, Alexander Johannes; Rudert, Maximilian; Stratos, Ioannis
- Abstract
In March 2020, Germany imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, prompting questions about the impact on the incidence of common fractures. This study examined 15 fracture types in pre-outbreak (2010–2019) and post-outbreak (2020–2021) periods, using data categorized by age (18–64 years, >65 years) and sex (male, female). Linear regression assessed annual growth rates, and mean fracture numbers were compared across periods for significant differences. Results indicated a positive correlation between fracture incidence rates and time for various types, such as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic spine fractures, rib fractures, femoral neck, pertrochanteric femur, femoral shaft, and ankle fractures. Frequencies of proximal humerus, distal radius, femoral neck, pertrochanteric femur, femoral shaft, and ankle fractures in 2020 and 2021 were within predicted ranges from previous years. However, rib fractures and spinal fractures (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic spine) occurred less frequently during this time. Notably, this study found a consistent decline in most fracture types for individuals aged 18–64 after the pandemic's onset, while the fracture incidence of hip fractures, often referred to as fragility fractures, for those over 65 remained unchanged. Fibula fractures showed the most considerable decrease in both age groups. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted fracture incidence, with lower rates among individuals under 65 and unchanged fragility fractures in the elderly population.
- Subjects
GERMANY; PELVIC fractures; AGE distribution; TIME; ANKLE fractures; HIP fractures; FIBULA injuries; REGRESSION analysis; SEX distribution; PRE-tests &; post-tests; RESEARCH funding; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RIB fractures; DATA analysis software; BONE fractures; VERTEBRAL fractures; FEMORAL neck fractures; FEMORAL fractures; COVID-19 pandemic; RADIUS fractures
- Publication
Healthcare (2227-9032), 2023, Vol 11, Issue 15, p2139
- ISSN
2227-9032
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/healthcare11152139