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Contact with Friends and Family Improves Hip Fracture Recovery, Among Other Benefits
September 15, 2008
According to a new study, socially connected elderly adults who fractured their hip had a better chance of survival, and better recoveries, than their less socially-integrated peers. Researchers led by Dr. Edward Mortimore found that among 674 elderly hip fracture patients, those who’d had regular contact with friends in the weeks before the injury were more likely to be alive two years later. Those with no such contact were five times more likely to die during the study period. Although family connections were also linked to a lower risk of death, the apparent protective effect of friendship appeared to be even stronger.(1)
These findings corroborate with a recent University of Michigan study, which found that people with a strong social network felt less anxiety before a major operation.
Daniel Hinshaw, M.D., and his colleagues at the University of Michigan found that patients with more active friendship networks felt less pain and anxiety pre-surgery. As a result, they used less pain medication, felt less post-operative pain/anxiety and had faster recuperation times. Dr. Hinshaw also noted that medical care providers play a unique and important role for patients who otherwise have limited social contact.(2)
(1) Amount of social contact and hip fracture mortality. Mortimore E, Haselow D, Dolan M, Hawkes WG, Langenberg P, Zimmerman S, Magaziner J Division of Nursing Homes, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Room S3-12-11, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, USA.
(2) Social connectedness and patient Recovery after major operations. Allison R. Mitchinson, Hyungjin Myra Kim, Michael Geisser, Jack M. Rosenberg, Daniel B. Hinshaw Journal of the American College of Surgeons - February 2008 (Vol. 206, Issue 2, Pages 292-300, DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2007.08.017)
Topics: Health News