Impact of physiotherapy access on health-related quality of life following hip fracture: an observational study on 30 752 hip fractures from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register 2014–2018

Abstract

Objectives The main objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of patients receiving private community physiotherapy (PT) the first year after a hip fracture. Second, to determine whether utilisation of PT could improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Methods In an observational cohort study, 30 752 hip fractures from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register were linked with data from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Control and Payment of Health Reimbursements Database. Association between covariates and utilisation of PT in the first year after fracture, the association between covariates and EQ-5D index score and the probability of experiencing ‘no problems’ in the five dimensions of the EQ-5D were assessed with multiple logistic regression models.Results Median age was 81 years, and 68.4% were females. Most patients with hip fracture (57.7%) were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists classes 3–5, lived alone (52.4%), and had a low or medium level of education (85.7%). In the first year after injury, 10 838 of 30 752 patients with hip fracture (35.2%) received PT. Lower socioeconomic status (measured by income and level of education), male sex, increasing comorbidity, presence of cognitive impairment and increasing age led to a lower probability of receiving postoperative PT. Among those who used PT, EQ-5D index score was 0.061 points (p<0.001) higher than those who did not. Correspondingly, the probability of having ‘no problems’ in three of the five dimensions of EQ-5D was greater.Conclusions A minority of the patients with hip fracture had access to private PT the first year after injury. This may indicate a shortcoming in the provision of beneficial post-surgery rehabilitative care reducing post-treatment HRQoL. The findings underscore the need for healthcare policies that address disparities in PT access, particularly for elderly patients, those with comorbidities and reduced health, and those with lower socioeconomic status.