This study shows that in the Italian population aged >or=45, hospitalizations following hip fracture and AMI between 1999 and 2002 were comparable, while hip fractures' direct costs were higher and grew faster than costs for AMI. Hip fractures in Italy are a serious medical problem and a leading health-cost driver.

Hip fractures of the elderly are increasing and represent a major health problem in industrialized countries such as Italy.

IV.

Although providing the patients with their individual fracture risk information was not statistically effective, further studies on additional interventions able to improve the patients' perceived risk of fracture are warranted.