The FAITH and HEALTH Trials: Are We Studying Different Hip Fracture Patient Populations?

Description

In this presentation, Michael Blankstein discusses the FAITH and HEALTH trials that focus on the treatment of lower energy femoral neck fractures in patients over the age of 50. He acknowledges the support from various institutions and individuals involved in the studies. The aim of the research is to compare patient populations across these two clinical trials regarding demographics and medical comorbidities, particularly highlighting the discrepancies in enrollment despite similar inclusion criteria.



The trials are structured differently: the FAITH trial focuses on patients with both undisplaced and displaced femoral neck fractures, randomized to receive either surgical fixation with screws or an operation hip screw. Conversely, the HEALTH trial specifically addresses patients with completely displaced fractures, comparing hemiarthroplasty and total hip replacement.



Blankstein emphasizes the importance of understanding selection bias in clinical trials, indicating that results might mislead surgeons about the generalizability of these trials. The results of the study reveal significant differences between the groups, with HEALTH trial patients being older, more often female, and having more comorbidities compared to those in the FAITH trial.



Ultimately, Blankstein concludes that, although the inclusion criteria were similar, significant differences in patient characteristics could affect the trial outcomes and decision making regarding treatments for hip fractures. He advocates for the need to establish a universal set of inclusion and exclusion criteria to reduce unintentional selection bias in future studies.

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