COFFEE INTAKE AND RISK OF HIP FRACTURE IN WOMEN IN NORTHERN ITALY

Background. Information on a possible relation between coffee, caffeine, and other methylxanthine-containing beverages and hip fracture is relatively scanty and controversial. We present here the results of a case-control study conducted in northern Italy. Methods. A total of 279 cases of hip fracture and 1,061 controls in hospital for acute, nonneoplastic nontraumatic, non-hormone-related diseases were interviewed during their hospital stay. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) according to consumption of coffee and other methylxanthine-containing beverages were derived from multiple logistic regression equations including terms for age, education, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol drinking, calcium intake, menopausal status, and estrogen replacement therapy. Results. Compared with nondrinkers, the OR was 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8 to 1.7) for coffee drinkers. No association emerged with number of cups/day (OR = 1.2 for 1 cup/ day, 1.0 for 2, 1.4 for 3 and 4, and 1.2 for 5 or more cups/day) or with duration of coffee intake (OR = 1.0 for less than 30 years and OR = 1.1 for more than 30 years). Similarly, no statistically significant association was observed with decaffeinated coffee (OR = 1.3), tea (OR = 1.3), or cola intake (OR = 0.6). OR for coffee drinking were computed across strata of age, menopausal status, education, smoking status, total alcohol drinking, and calcium intake. Conclusions. The present study found no association between hip fractures among women and consumption of regular or decaffeinated coffee, tea, and cola. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.