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[Vitamin D levels among Chilean older subjects with low energy hip fracture]
Insights
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in older adults with hip fractures, affecting 98% of those studied. This highlights a critical need for addressing low vitamin D levels in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the elderly, with reported rates between 40-100%.
- Hip fractures are a significant health concern in the geriatric population, often linked to underlying deficiencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency.
- To investigate these levels in geriatric patients undergoing surgical repair for hip fractures.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of patients over 60 surgically treated for hip fractures over three years.
- Vitamin D levels were measured from blood samples upon hospital admission.
- Logistic regression analyzed predictors like age, gender, morbidity, and season for vitamin D deficiency.
Main Results:
- 98% of 228 geriatric hip fracture patients (84 ± 7 years, 82% female) had hypovitaminosis D (80% deficiency, 18% insufficiency).
- Vitamin D deficiency was more common in patients with higher ASA scores and during winter-spring.
- Age showed a negative correlation with vitamin D deficiency; gender was not a significant factor.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency is exceptionally prevalent in older adults with hip fractures, affecting 98% in this cohort.
- The findings underscore the critical importance of assessing and managing vitamin D status in geriatric hip fracture patients.
Background:
Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition affecting 40-100% of geriatric population.
Aim:
To determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in geriatric population surgically treated for hip fracture.
Patients And Methods:
Analysis of a database of patients aged over 60 years operated for a low energy hip fracture in a three years period. Vitamin D was measured in identified patients, using a blood sample obtained on admission to the hospital. A logistic regression was carried out to evaluate age, gender, morbidity index and season as predictors of vitamin D deficiency.
Results:
Two hundred and twenty-eight patients aged 84 ± 7 years (82% females), were included in the analysis. One hundred eighty-three patients (80%) presented vitamin D levels below 20 ng/dl (deficiency) and 39 patients (18%) presented with levels between 20 and 30 ng/dl (insufficiency), totaling 98% of patients with hypovitaminosis D. Vitamin D deficiency was especially common among patients with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System and during winter-spring period. A negative correlation between age and the proportion of subjects with vitamin D deficiency was found. There was no relation between gender and vitamin D levels.
Conclusions:
Vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent in older subjects with hip fracture, reaching 98% in the studied population.
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