Inclusion Criteria:  patient with hip fracture, >65 years of age, ASA ≥2, 4) scheduled for neuraxial anaesthesia and 5) mentally intact to give informed consent. This could also be given by next-of-kin, if the patient was cognitively impaired.  Exclusion Criteria:  lithium or anticoagulation medication, planned for general anaesthesia, ongoing atrial fibrillation, if surgery was delayed >72 hours, lack of informed consent and patient agitation requiring intermittent sedation.