Fracture rates lower in rural than urban communities: The Geelong osteoporosis study

Abstract

Background: Urban and rural communities differ in the incidence of several diseases including coronary heart disease and some cancers. Lower hip fracture rates among rural than urban populations have been reported but few studies have compared rural and urban fractures at sites other than the hip. Objective: To compare total and site specific fracture rates among adult residents of rural and urban communities within the same population. Design and setting: This is a population based study on osteoporosis in Australia. All fractures occurring in adult residents over a two year period were ascertained using radiological reports. The rural and urban areas are in close proximity, with the same m..