• Amit Thakrar, Karen Chui, Akhil Kapoor, and John Hambidge.
• Trauma and Orthopedic Department, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford, United Kingdom.
• J Orthop Trauma. 2020 Sep 1; 34 (9): e325-e329.

ObjectivesDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the care of hip fracture patients remains a clinical priority. Our study aims to investigate the 30-day mortality rate of hip fracture patients during the first 30 days of the pandemic in the United Kingdom.MethodsA single-center, observational, prospective study of patients presenting with hip fractures. Data collection started from "day 0" of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and continued for 30 days. We collected data on time to surgery, Clinical Frailty Scale score, Nottingham Hip Fracture Score, COVID-19 infection status, 30-day mortality, and cause of death. For comparison, we collected retrospective data during the same 30-day period in 2018, 2019, and the previous 6 months (Control groups A, B, and C, respectively).ResultsForty-three patients were included in the study. There was no difference in age or gender between the Study and Control groups. The 30-day mortality rate of the Study group was 16.3%, which was higher than Control groups A (P = 0.022), B (P = 0.003) and C (P = 0.001). The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in our Study group was 26%. Of the 7 mortalities recorded, 4 patients tested positive for COVID-19 infection. In our Study group, COVID-19 infection correlated significantly with 30-day mortality (P = 0.002, odds ratio 2.4).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated a significant increase in 30-day mortality among hip fracture patients during the first 30 days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. A positive COVID-19 test result in patients with hip fractures is associated with a 2.4-fold increase in risk of 30-day mortality.Level Of EvidencePrognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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