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Even mild kidney dysfunction in elderly women raises their risk of hip fracture, according to a new study.

Researchers at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis found that mildly impaired kidney function increased the risk of hip fracture among older women by more than 50%. Moderately impaired kidney function increased the risk of hip fractures by more than 100%. Researchers studied nearly 700 women 65 and older, either with hip fractures, vertebral fractures or no broken bones.

Kidney function did not have an effect on vertebral fractures, according to the research. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.