Vitamin D supplementation is required to normalize serum level of 25OH-vitamin D in older adults: An observational study of 974 hip fracture inpatients

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in older adults in all continents. In this study we assessed the vitamin D status of hip fracture subjects across different hospitals in a real word situation using the data from a multicenter cohort study on outcomes in orthogeriatric units. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study on 974 consecutive patients 75 yr or older admitted with fragility hip fracture over a 12 months period at 4 general hospitals of different districts in Emilia Romagna Region, Italy. Data collected included comorbidity, cognitive impairment, pre-fracture functional status, walking ability, living arrangement along with the use of antiosteoporotic drugs, serum intact PTH and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Results: Mean 25(OH)D serum levels were 12.2±9.4 ng/ml and 84.2% of patients had levels below recommended values. Male had a higher probability to have values within the reference range [odds ratio (OR): 1.74 (1.13−2.67); p =0.012] while living in nursing resulted negatively related even if only close to statistical significance [OR: 0.24 (0.06−1.02); p =0.051]. Vitamin D supplementation appeared to be the strongest factor associated with adequate level of vitamin D levels [OR: 4.50 (2.57−7.88); p