Vol. 10, Issue 4 (2024)
Vitamin D deficiency and fragility fractures in Bangladeshi elderly patients and efficacy of Vit-D supplementation
AKM Latiful Bari, Mohammed Ramzanul Karim Khan, Moyeen Ahmed Ferdous, Md. Ibrahim Miah, Md. Alinoor, Md. Motiur Rahaman, Sharif Md. Musa, Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Mohammad Faroque Eastiak, Ahsan Majid, Mahamud Mannan and Mohammad Moshiur Rahman
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern, particularly among the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in elderly Bangladeshi patients with fragility fractures and assess the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation.
Methods: In this prospective observational study, 110 elderly patients (≥60 years) with fragility fractures were enrolled. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Patients with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) or insufficiency (20-29 ng/mL) received oral cholecalciferol supplementation (50,000 IU weekly for 8 weeks, followed by 800 IU daily). Functional outcomes were assessed using the Barthel Index and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Results: At baseline, 70.9% of patients were vitamin D deficient, and 21.8% were insufficient. Following supplementation, mean serum 25(OH)D levels increased significantly from 14.5 ng/mL at baseline to 35.6 ng/mL at 6 months (p<0.001). Concurrently, serum parathyroid hormone levels decreased (p<0.001), and serum calcium levels increased (p<0.001). Significant improvements were observed in the Barthel Index (median increase: 20 points, p<0.001) and TUG test (mean decrease: 6.8 seconds, p<0.001) at 6 months. Multiple regression analysis revealed that baseline vitamin D levels, age, and sun exposure were significant predictors of response to supplementation.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among elderly Bangladeshi patients with fragility fractures. Vitamin D supplementation effectively improved vitamin D status and was associated with enhanced functional outcomes. These findings support the implementation of vitamin D screening and supplementation programs for this at-risk population.
Pages: 114-119 | 199 Views 56 Downloads