Health System Demand

Osteoporosis New Zealand estimates that 22,300 fragility fractures occur annually among New Zealanders aged 50+, including nearly 3,900 hip fractures and 2,900 symptomatic spine fractures.

Fragility fractures place a significant demand on New Zealand’s healthcare system, accounting for over 191,000 hospital beds annually. Many of these fractures are preventable.

In 2022, the number of hospital bed days attributable to fragility fractures and other injurious falls among the 50+ population in New Zealand were:

• Hip fractures: 77,928 bed days
• Other fragility fractures: 113,641 bed days
• Injurious falls without fractures: 116,081 bed days

To put these numbers into perspective, imagine a hypothetical “Fragility Fractures Hospital” where all fragility fracture patients in New Zealand are treated. This hospital would require 525 beds, making it the sixth largest hospital in the country.

Similarly, a “Fragility Fractures and Falls Hospital” accommodating all such patients would need 843 beds, ranking as the third largest hospital in the nation.

A significant proportion of fragility fractures and falls are preventable, allowing the healthcare system to reallocate resources to the management of other conditions.