Associations of vitamin D deficiency with postoperative gait and mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur

To assess whether serum vitamin D concentration is associated with gait status and mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur, six months after suffering the fracture. Consecutive patients aged ≥65 years with fractures of the proximal femur, who were admitted to the orthopedics and traumatology ward of our service between January and December 2011, were prospectively evaluated. Clinical, radiological, epidemiological and laboratory analyses were performed, including vitamin D. The patients underwent surgery and were followed up as outpatients, with return visits 15, 30, 60 and 180 days after discharge, at which the outcomes of gait and mortality were evaluated. Eighty-eight patients were evaluated. Two of them were excluded because they presented oncological fractures. Thus, 86 patients of mean age 80.2±7.3 years were studied. In relation to serum vitamin D, the mean was 27.8±14.5ng/mL, and 33.7% of the patients presented deficiency of this vitamin. In relation to gait, univariate and multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin D deficiency was not associated with gait recovery, even after adjustment for gender, age and type of fracture (OR: 1.463; 95% CI: 0.524–4.088; p=0.469). Regarding mortality, Cox regression analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency was not related to its occurrence within six months, even in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.627; 95% CI: 0.180–2.191; p=0.465). Serum vitamin D concentration was not related to gait status and/or mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur, six months after suffering the fracture. Avaliar se a concentração sérica de vitamina D está associada ao status de marcha e à mortalidade em pacientes com fratura de fêmur proximal seis meses após a fratura. Avaliados prospectivamente pacientes consecutivos com fratura de fêmur proximal, com idade ≥ 65 anos, internados na enfermaria de ortopedia e traumatologia do serviço, entre janeiro a dezembro de 2011. Foram feitas análises clínica, radiológica, epidemiológica e laboratorial, incluindo vitamina D. Foram submetidos à cirurgia e acompanhados ambulatorialmente em retornos 15, 30, 60 e 180 dias após a alta, quando foram avaliados os desfechos de marcha e mortalidade. Avaliados 88 pacientes. Dois foram excluídos por causa de fratura patológica. Oitenta e seis pacientes com idade média de 80,2±7,3 anos foram estudados. Em relação à vitamina D sérica a média foi de 27,8±14,5ng/mL e 33,7% dos pacientes apresentavam deficiência d