Factors associated with health-related quality of life, hip function, and health utility after operative management of femoral neck fractures

textabstractAims The primary aim of this prognostic study was to identify baseline factors associated with physical health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients after a femoral neck fracture. The secondary aims were to identify baseline factors associated with mental HRQL, hip function, and health utility. Patients and Methods Patients who were enrolled in the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip Fractures (FAITH) trial completed the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, and EuroQol 5-Dimension at regular intervals for 24 months. We conducted multilevel mixed models to identify factors potentially associated with HRQL. Results The following were associated with lower physical HRQL: Older age (-1.42 for every ten-year increase, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.17 to -0.67, p < 0.001); female gender (-1.52, 95% CI - 3.00 to -0.05, p = 0.04); higher body mass index (-0.69 for every five-point increase, 95% CI - 1.36 to -0.02, p = 0.04); American Society of Anesthesiologists class III (versus class I) (-3.19, 95% CI -5.73 to -0.66, p = 0.01); and sustaining a displaced fracture (-2.18, 95% CI -3.88 to - 0.49, p = 0.01). Additional factors were associated with mental HRQL, hip function, and health utility. Conclusion We identified several baseline factors associated with lower HRQL, hip function, and utility after a femoral neck fracture. These findings may be used by clinicians to inform treatment and outcomes.