OBJECTIVES: Due to their high economic and social impact, fractures in older adults must be studied and recognized. With its universal coverage and unified information system called SISPRO, the Colombian healthcare system allows for the evaluation of the epidemiology of many health issues. The aim of this descriptive study was to analyze the frequency of bone fractures in individuals 80 years-of-age or older.

METHODS: By accessing the administrative database of the Ministry of Health, nationwide information was collected from 2018 to 2022, categorized by gender, on all reported fractures during the period, excluding those of the skull or face.

RESULTS: A total of 171,976 individuals with fractures were reported (women 123,807, 72.0%). The five-year prevalence of fractures was 8.71%, higher in women (10.82%) than in men (5.80%). The most frequent fractures were of the hip and thigh (77,849, 37.8% of total fractures), forearm and elbow (38,990), shoulder and arm (26,419), and vertebral fractures (10,516). Other common fractures included rib fractures (4,572) and clavicle fractures (2,649).

CONCLUSIONS: One in every 9 women and one in every 17 men experienced a fracture during a five-year period. Fall prevention and the management of risk factors, such as osteoporosis, are crucial for addressing this public health issue.