Vitamin D deficiency in hip fracture patients associated with increased mortality: study

• Male sex (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.01, P < 0.001) was also associated with a higher mortality risk.

• Vitamin D deficiency was not associated with length of hospital stay.

The authors opined – “In conclusion, there was an independent association between vitamin D deficiency and increased mortality in hip fracture patients. These results agree with the wider literature, but the independence from confounders may be due to lack of inclusion of a comprehensive measure of comorbidity in this study. The role of routinely measuring vitamin D status in this population is debated. While some consider it mandatory, others, like the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit (SHFA), consider vitamin D deficiency so prevalent that measurement is unnecessary and treat all hip fracture patients for vitamin D deficiency. Ensuring hip fracture patients receive vitamin D supplementation during their hospital stay remains important given its high prevalence and the increased mortality, falls and fracture risks linked to vitamin D deficiency.” 

Further reading:

Vitamin D deficiency in hip fracture patients is associated with an increased mortality risk. John M. Bayram et al European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology (2024) 35:33 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-024-04162-8