OBJECTIVES: Within DEXHELPP (Decision Support for Health Policy and Planning: Methods, Models and Technologies based on Existing Health Care Data) fractures due to falls less than three meters for the elderly are identified as one big health problem. Primary prevention strategy evaluation for new raising policies is of interest. To parameterize these models/strategies, a detailed analysis of the state of the art is essential. This part, especially readmission and mortality are the key questions. METHODS: Claims data (GAP-DRG) in the Austrian health care sector is used including many details for patient care. GAP-DRG (General Approach for Patient oriented Outpatient-based DRG) is a research data base with reimbursement data for outpatient services of sickness funds (social insurance) and Federal Ministry of Health (hospital data). Based on ICD10 diagnosis subgroups of fracture categories are analysed for the years 2006 and 2007. Diagnoses are grouped into severity classes and logistic regression as well as Cox-regressions are performed. RESULTS: In total 32343 patients older than 60 years with main fracture ICD10 diagnosis are identified and followed up for one year. During that time 4596 persons died. Low and moderate disease severity have a vastly reduced mortality rate. For low severity it is only about 1/3 and for moderate severity 2/3 compared to high disease severity with 21% annual mortality. In case of readmission sever fractures result in at least 19,1% cases. CONCLUSIONS: The realized work represents the actual Austrian situation. Additional analysis including longer wash-out phase seems promising. Due to the fact, that a high number of persons is affected, the socio-economic impact is shown. The results reflect the findings from international studies and could be used for parametrization of prevention strategy evaluation models.