Serum biomarkers and bone mineral density of the hip in Chinese elderly patients with hip fractures

This study aims to analyze the serum biomarkers and bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip in patients with hip fractures, and to explore the risk factors for different types of hip fractures in Chinese elderly patients. In this retrospective case-control study, 235 patients aged >60 and suffered from their first hip fracture were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the femoral neck fracture group (n = 99, mean age 80.6 ± 7.76 yr) and the intertrochanteric fracture group (n = 136, mean age 83.5 ± 6.82 yr). Serum biomarkers and BMD parameters (femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric region, total hip, and Ward triangle) of the contralateral hip were collected and compared.The intertrochanteric fracture group had significantly lower red blood cell count, hemoglobin, albumin, total cholesterol, and serum calcium levels than the femoral neck fracture group (P < .001), but had higher blood urea nitrogen levels (P = .01). In both male and female patients, the intertrochanteric fracture group had significantly lower BMD in the greater trochanter and total hip regions compared to the femoral neck fracture group (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, lower hemoglobin, and lower total cholesterol levels were significant risk factors for intertrochanteric fractures (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, P = .016; OR = 3.65, P < .001; OR = 3.20, P = .017), while higher greater trochanter BMD was a protective factor (OR = 0.36, P < .001).Different risk factors are associated with femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures. Some of the serum biomarkers and hip BMD parameters are closely related to the types of fractures.