Obesity and Risk of Hip Fracture in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

<div><p>Background</p><p>Many observational studies assessed the association between obesity and risk of hip fracture in adults, but reported controversial results. Our goal was to evaluate the association between obesity and risk of hip fracture in adults by conducting a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>Three databases, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, were searched through May 2012 to identify eligible cohort studies. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (95%CI).</p> <p>Results</p><p>Fifteen prospective cohort studies involving a total 3,126,313 participants were finally included into this meta-analysis. Overall, adults with obesity compared with the normal weight group had a significantly decreased risk of hip fracture (RR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.77, P<0.001). Meta-analyses by the adjusted status of RRs also suggested adults with obesity compared with the reference group had a significantly decreased risk of hip fracture (adjusted RR: 0.48, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.58, P<0.001; unadjusted RR: 0.66, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.78, P<0.001). Subgroup analyses by gender suggested individuals with obesity had a significantly decreased risk for developing hip fracture compared with the reference group in both men (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.60, P<0.001) and women (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.84, P<0.001). No evidence of publication bias was observed in this meta-analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p><p>This meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies suggests that obesity significantly decreases the risk of hip fracture in adults, and obesity is probably a protective factor of hip fracture in adults.</p> </div

Characteristics of 15 prospective cohort studies included into this meta-analysis.

<p>(BMI, body mass index).</p

Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Analysis of unadjusted RRs).

<p>Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Analysis of unadjusted RRs).</p

Summary of the results in the meta-analysis of adult obesity and risk of hip fracture.

<p>(NA = not applicable).</p

Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Analysis of adjusted RRs).

<p>Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Analysis of adjusted RRs).</p

Begg's funnel plot did not identify substantial asymmetry in the meta-analysis of total 15 studies.

<p>Begg's funnel plot did not identify substantial asymmetry in the meta-analysis of total 15 studies.</p

Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Meta-analysis of total included studies).

<p>Forest plot showed an association between adult obesity and decreased risk of hip fracture (Meta-analysis of total included studies).</p