本文的研究目的為探討髖骨骨折、脊椎骨折及上肢(含肱骨、橈骨及尺骨)之骨折從1998至2010 年的住院趨勢。本研究資料來自行政院衛生署統計公佈欄之資料檔，收集從13年間50歲及以上因骨折 住院患者之相關資訊，以國際疾病分類第9版編碼認定骨折部部位，報告年齡、性別特異性骨折住院率 及人數。本研究發現無論股骨頸或脊椎骨折之每十萬人口住院比例隨著時間都有下降的趨勢，股骨頸骨 折每年以0.3-1.8%比例下降，脊椎骨折每年以7.8-12.6%比例下降，但上肢骨折之住院率0.5-2.1%比例 上升。從人數來看，在13年期間中，脊椎骨折住院人數呈下降的，但股骨頸及上肢骨折住院人數是上 升的。造成各類骨折住院趨勢變化的原因未明，需要與健保資料庫歸人統計檔做連結，以近一步推論相 關性或因果關係。

The study aims to investigate the hospitalization trends in hip, vertebral, and upper extremity (including humeral, radial and ulnar) fractures from 1998 through 2010. The study utilizes National Health Insurance (NHI) statistical data released by the Department of Health, Taiwan. Patients (both man and women) aged 50 years and above, hospitalized during the 13 year study periods for the related fractures (according to the International Classification of Disease, Clinical Modification 9th version) were included. Age and gender specified hospitalization rate and number were calculated. The results showed that the hospitalization rates per 10,000 people for both hip and vertebral fractures decreased with time, (hip fractures decrease in a rate of 0.3-1.8% per year, and vertebral fractures decrease in a rate of 7.8-12.6% per year, respectively) but the upper extremity fracture hospitalization rates increased with time (in a rate of 0.5-2.1% per year). However, only the number of hospitalization for vertebral fracture decreased, while the number of hospitalization for both hip and upper extremity fractures increased over the 13-year period. The reasons behind the observed trends are unclear. Further study with individual level NHI data is needed to evaluate the factors associated with the trends in these fractures.