Background and importance Hip fracture is an increasing disease as the population get older. It has direct consequences in health systems in terms of quality of live and economic investment. Furthermore, these patients usually have comorbidities and take multiple medications.

Aim and objectives To analyse the impact of polypharmacy and comorbidity on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with hip fracture.

Material and methods Prospective and observational study with consecutive sampling of patients aged over 65 years admitted for hip fracture surgery during the study period. Functional ability (CUPAX test), nutritional risk (NRS), frailty (Fried et al), Charlson Comorbidity index, number of drugs and QoL variables were collected. QoL was assessed using the EuroQol-5D-3L questionnaire at the time of admission which referred to their baseline condition before the hip fracture.

A stepwise multiple regression was performed to study independent variables associated with QoL. The significance level for the different analyses was established as p< 0.05. The data analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results The study included 33 patients, mean age 79 years (SD ± 7), 73% women. Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5 (IC 4.2–5.5). The mean number of medications taken was 7.5 (IC 5.8–9.1). In the multiple regression analysis (adjusted R²=0.293, p=0.001) the comorbidity index was associated with a lower EQ-5D index, while the number of drugs had no relation to the EQ-5D. None of the clinical variables of performance status, physical function and nutritional status showed statistical significance in the multivariable model.

Conclusion and relevance Charlson Comorbidity index but not the number of drugs had an impact on the QoL of admitted patients with hip fracture.

Conflict of interest No conflict of interest