Risk Factors for Loss to Follow-up of Elderly Patients After Hip Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Non-attendance with scheduled postoperative follow-up visits remains a common issue in orthopaedic clinical research. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with loss to follow-up among elderly patients with hip-fracture postoperatively.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1-year post-surgery was performed on patients aged over 60 years who underwent hip-fracture surgery from January 2017 to March 2019. Based on their completion of the appointed follow-up schedule, the patients were classified into 2 groups: the Loss to Follow-up (LTFU) Group and the Follow-up (FU) Group. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by Functional Recovery Score (FRS) questionnaires. Telephone interviews were conducted with patients lost to follow-up to determine the reasons for non-attendance. A comparative analysis of baseline characteristics between the 2 groups was implemented, with further exploration of statistical differences through logistic regression.

Results: A total of 992 patients met the inclusion criteria were included in this study, of which 189 patients, accounting for 19.1%, were lost to follow-up 1 year postoperatively. The mean age of the patients in the LTFU Group was 82.0 years, significantly higher than the 76.0 years observed in the FU Group (P < 0.001). The FRS for the LTFU Group was marginally higher than that of the FU group (84.0 vs 81.0), with no significant difference (P = 0.060). Logistic regression analysis identified several significant predictors of noncompliance, including advanced age at surgery, femoral neck fracture, hip arthroplasty, long distance from residence to hospital, and the reliance on urban-rural public transportation for reaching the hospital.

Conclusion: Postoperative follow-up loss was prevalent among elderly patients with hip fractures. Our study indicated a constellation of risk factors contributing to noncompliance, including advanced age, transportation difficulties, long travel distance, femoral neck fracture and hip arthroplasty surgery.