Comparison of Fractures Among Older Adults Who Are Ambulatory vs Those Who Use Wheelchairs in Sweden
Authors' conclusion
In this retrospective cohort study of older adults, wheelchair use was associated with a lower risk of fracture than observed in ambulatory controls.
Study context
- Population
- Adults 65 years or older with a health evaluation at Swedish health care facilities, 2007–2017 (mean [SD] age 83.2 [8.3] years; 60.5% women)
- Participants
- 55,442 vs 55,442
- Exposure
- Wheelchair users vs matched ambulatory controls
- Wheelchairn = 55,442
- Ambulatory controlsn = 55,442reference
- Outcome
- Incident fracture, injurious falls without fracture, and deaths
Methodological detailspropensity score matched 1:1 using 22 variables, national database
- Propensity score matched 1:1 using 22 variables
- National database
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Fracture
Each group vs ambulatory controlsEstimate (95% CI)
Wheelchair
HR (any fracture) 0.43(0.41–0.44)
Wheelchair
HR (major osteoporotic fracture) 0.32(0.31–0.33)
Wheelchair
HR (hip fracture) 0.30(0.28–0.32)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Injurious fallsRemained highly similar after adjustments | unadjusted HR 0.48 (95% CI 0.47–0.50) | |
| Death | HR 1.35 (95% CI 1.33–1.36) | |
| 0.512Ratio (log scale) |
Follow-up duration
Original publication
Comparison of Fractures Among Older Adults Who Are Ambulatory vs Those Who Use Wheelchairs in Sweden. JAMA Netw Open. Published 1 February 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →