Severe vitamin D deficiency in Swiss hip fracture patients

Bone. 2008 Mar;42(3):597-602. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2007.10.026. Epub 2007 Nov 28.

Abstract

Background: Most clinical guidelines for the prevention of hip fractures recommend 800 IU vitamin D per day. This dose shifted serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D) in previous studies to between 60 and 100 nmol/l.

Aim: To measure 25(OH)D levels and prevalence of vitamin D supplementation in individuals age 65+ with acute hip fracture.

Methods: 222 consecutive hip fracture patients were investigated over a 12 month period. Mean age of patients was 86 years and 77% were women.

Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D levels were low among hip fracture patients admitted from home (34.6 nmol/l), from assisted living (27.7 nmol/l), and from nursing homes (24 nmol/l). Severe vitamin D deficiency below 30 nmol/l was present in 60%, 80% were below 50 nmol/l, and less than 4% reached desirable levels of at least 75 nmol/l. Consistently, only 10% of hip fracture patients had any vitamin D supplementation on admission to acute care with significantly higher 25(OH)D levels among individuals supplemented with 800-880 IU/day (63.5 nmol/l). Controlling for age and gender, vitamin D supplementation, type of dwelling, and season were independently and significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels.

Conclusion: These data provide evidence that current guidelines for the prevention of hip fractures need further effort to be translated into clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Hip Fractures* / blood
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Seasons
  • Sunlight
  • Switzerland
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D