Throughout the years of the National Injury Registry, the injury rates in Harstad closely resembled the rates of the national registry [18]. With reference to the recent reports suggesting stabilizing hip fracture incidence internationally as well as nationally, and selleck screening library regional differences within Norway, we have used the hip fracture data in the Harstad Injury Registry to: 1. Describe age- and sex-specific incidence of hip fractures in Harstad, Northern Norway and make comparison with rates from the ERK inhibitor Norwegian capital Oslo   2. Describe time trends in hip fracture

incidence in Harstad from 1994 to 2008   3. Describe place of injury and seasonal variations in hip fracture incidence in Harstad   4. Compare 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year mortality after hip fracture between women and men in Harstad   Materials and method The municipality of Harstad, located 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, comprises with its 23,257 inhabitants (January 1, 2010), 0.5% of the Norwegian population. All injured persons, including hip fracture patients, entering the hospital emergency room are recorded in the Harstad Injury Registry. The local hospital, which is the only

hospital in the area, has YH25448 an X-ray department and access to orthopedic surgery, and all patients with hip fractures are treated locally with a minimal leakage to other hospitals. From 1985 to 1993, the registration of hip fractures Tyrosine-protein kinase BLK was used for evaluation of an injury prevention program [18, 19]. Data from the period between 1985 and 1988 provided baseline information for a 5-year intensive community-based intervention program running between 1989 and 1993, which included removal of environmental hazards in homes, promotion of safe footwear used outdoors and reduction of slippery surfaces in traffic areas during winter. The results indicated a significant reduction of hip fracture rates related to falls indoors and in traffic areas

in winter in men [18]. After 1993, the intervention program continued as an integrated part of the community health service and the present study encompasses the years from 1994 to 2008, after termination of the prevention study. Registration of hip fractures On admission in the hospital, the patient or someone accompanying him/her and the admitting doctor complete an injury registration form providing information concerning name, date of birth, sex, place of residence, activity during injury, time, place and type of injury as well as injury mechanism and body part injured. An open-ended question describes in free text the event leading to the injury. The admitting doctor registers the patient’s diagnosis to the injury registration form, usually based on the present clinical symptoms. The forms are collected and examined by a specially trained nurse who also assures that all incidents are registered by comparing with the admission list. She then enters the data into a common database.