Wearing hip protectors does not reduce health-related quality of life in older people

SIR—Fall-related injuries in older people may lead to loss of function, anxiety, depression or impaired rehabilitation reducing quality of life (QoL) [1], and the wearing of hip protectors may help protect older people from hip fractures due to a fall. Although the extent of their effectiveness is still uncertain, their use has been promoted by various researchers and involved parties [2]. So far, the utilisation of hip protectors has had limited success because a high level of adherence is rarely achieved. Factors frequently reported which contribute to poor adherence with hip protectors are lack of comfort (too tight/poor fit), the extra effort and time needed to put them on, urinary incontinence and physical difficulties/illnesses [3, 4]. These factors may decrease QoL to a point that results in non-adherence. For those who are adherent to wearing hip protectors, it is also important to evaluate if they also perceive a decrease in their QoL due to these factors, notwithstanding the perceived benefits of wearing hip protectors.