Prevalence of Fractures in the Adult Population of Germany: An Evaluation of Inpatient and Outpatient Cases.

Abstract

Background: Fractures are a major public health problem, especially in older people. A better understanding of epidemiological trends and risk factors is essential for the development of prevention strategies.

Methods: We analyzed ICD-10 data provided by the German Federal Statistical Office and the Central Institute for Health Care (Zi) on inpatient and outpatient treatments for fracture in the year 2022. The frequency and distribution of fractures were examined according to anatomical site, sex, and age. The prevalence of inpatient cases was standardized to the German population and compared with figures from 2019.

Results: In 2022, there were 683 185 recorded fracture treatments in the inpatient setting, 1% fewer than in 2019. 63% of fractures were in women, and 71% in persons over age 65. The most common types were femoral neck fractures (129 per 100 000 population), pertrochanteric femur fractures (115/100 000), and distal radius fractures (106/100 000). Compared to 2019, there were more fractures of the femoral neck (+8%), femoral shaft (+7%), and distal humerus (+7%), and fewer fractures of the scaphoid bone (-31%), carpal and metacarpal bones (-30%), and ribs (-29%). 2 400 606 fractures were treated in the outpatient setting in 2022, corresponding to a prevalence of 2845.71/100 000. The most common types were distal radius fractures (210.76/100 000), finger fractures (186.1/100 000), and rib fractures (156.51/100 000 population).

Conclusion: Although the overall fracture prevalence declined slightly between 2019 and 2022, certain fracture types remained prevalent or even increased in frequency. This highlights the continued need for targeted preventive strategies, particularly for older adults.