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Study: Most older hip fracture patients lack vitamin D supplementation
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Despite a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among senior populations, researchers of this study found that about 20% received vitamin D supplements after hip fracture.
Researchers surveyed 1,090 patients older than 65 years with acute hip fracture and were admitted for surgery. They tested serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D) levels in 844 patients at admission, but only 362 patients allowed the researchers to follow up with them 12 months post fracture.
The researchers found that 19% of patients had doses of vitamin D prior to fracture. Vitamin D supplementation was noted in 27% of patients at discharge, 22% at 6-month follow-up and 21% at 12-month follow-up. Immediately after fracture, 25(OH)D levels were below 10 ng/ml in almost 50% of patients, below 20 ng/ml in 81% and below 30 ng/ml in nearly 100% of patients. Patients who received vitamin D had significantly higher 25(OH)D levels compared to those patients who had not received vitamin D.
“Interdisciplinary efforts may be warranted to improve vitamin D supplementation in seniors both before a hip fracture occurs and after,” the researchers wrote in their study abstract.
Disclosure: Orthopedics Today was unable to confirm the authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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