Which statement about hip fracture risk by sex is true?

Which statement about hip fracture risk by sex is true?

• A. Women have lower lifetime risk than men
• B. Women have higher lifetime risk than men
• C. Men have about four times the risk of women
• D. Women have about four times the risk of men

Answer: (D)

Hip fracture risk is higher in women than in men, largely because osteoporosis is more prevalent in women and they tend to live longer, accumulating risk over a longer period. In practical terms, lifetime risk for a woman is about 16%, while for a man it’s around 4%, so women have roughly four times the risk. This fourfold difference best captures the magnitude of the disparity. Saying women simply have higher risk is true but less specific, and statements implying men have higher risk or that women have lower risk are not accurate.

Hip fracture risk is higher in women than in men, largely because osteoporosis is more prevalent in women and they tend to live longer, accumulating risk over a longer period. In practical terms, lifetime risk for a woman is about 16%, while for a man it’s around 4%, so women have roughly four times the risk. This fourfold difference best captures the magnitude of the disparity. Saying women simply have higher risk is true but less specific, and statements implying men have higher risk or that women have lower risk are not accurate.