Excess mortality after hip fracture during COVID-19 pandemic: More about disruption, less about virulence- Lesson from a trauma center

To date, literature has depicted an increase in mortality among patients with hip fractures, directly related to acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and not due to underlying comorbidities. Usual orthogeriatric pathway in our Department was disrupted during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate early mortality within 30 days, in 2019 and 2020 in our Level 1 trauma-center. We compared two groups of patients aged >60 years, with osteoporotic upper hip fractures, in February/March/April 2020 and February/March/April 2019, in our level 1 trauma center. A total of 102 and 79 patients met the eligibility criteria in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Mortality was evaluated, merging our database with the French open database for death from the INSEE, which is prospectively updated each month. Causes of death were recorded. Charlson Comorbidity Index was evaluated for comorbidities, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scores were assessed for autonomy. There were no differences in age, sex, fracture type, Charlson Comorbidity Index, IADL, and ADL. 19 patients developed COVID-19 infection. The 30-day survival was 97% (95% CI, 94%-100%) in 2019 and 86% (95% CI, 79%-94%) in 2020 (HR = 5, 95%CI, 1.4-18.2, p = 0.013). In multivariable Cox'PH model, the period (2019/2020) was significantly associated to the 30-day mortality (HR = 6.4, 95%CI, 1.7-23, p = 0.005) and 6-month mortality (HR = 3.4, 95%CI, 1.2-9.2, p = 0.01). COVID infection did not modify significantly the 30-day and 6-month mortality. This series brought new important information, early mortality significantly increased because of underlying disease decompensation. Minimal comprehensive care should be maintained in all circumstances in order to avoid excess of mortality among elderly population with hip fractures.