Abstract
Introduction
There has been a paradigm shift in orthopaedic research, it is now recognized that the extent to which interventions really make a difference to a patient's overall life is indicated by measuring one's general health status. The primary aim of this study was to report how the methodology of current evidence in hip fracture research can improve if studies included patients with cognitive impairment.
Materials and methods
Using multiple databases inclusive from 1990 to May 2009, we performed a systematic review of all hip fracture observational cohorts and randomized studies (RCTs).
Results
We compared the screening and outcome measures in 190 studies: 79 unique RCTs and 111 cohorts were included (kappa, 0.83; 95% CI: 0.79 − 0.87). In RCTs, 24 (30.4%) trials screened for co-morbidities, 19 (24.1%) trials screened for cognitive impairment, and only 14 (17.7%) trials included patients with dementia. In the cohort studies, 27 (24.3%) screened for co-morbidities, 47 (42.3%) screened for cognitive impairment, and only 33 (29.7%) included patients with dementia. In the 7 cohorts that used proxy responders to assess functional outcomes, only one measured health status and two measured utility.
Discussion and Conclusion
Studies would be more relevant to surgeons and patients if researchers measured health status and utilized screening methods for dementia to promote better treatment strategies.
