A rationale for vitamin D prescribing in a falls clinic population.
OBJECTIVE
to assess the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in a falls clinic population. To identify simple clinical predictors of vitamin D insufficiency.


METHODS
prospective observational descriptive study.


METHODS
400 consecutive patients who attended a falls clinic taking referrals from a casualty department or general practitioners.


RESULTS
Hypovitaminosis D is very common, affecting at least 72% of a falls clinic population. The number of times an individual goes out per week and serum albumin are independent predictors of hypovitaminosis D, but the predictive value is low.


CONCLUSIONS
the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is high in a falls clinic population. It is difficult to predict which individuals are most at risk within this population. The benefits of vitamin D supplementation in older people are well recognized. Therefore in the absence of toxic effects, a pragmatic approach may be to supplement all attendees at a falls clinic.
Dhesi
Jugdeep K
JK
Clinical Age Research Unit, Department of Health Care of the Elderly, GKT School of Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, UK. jugdeep.dhesi@kcl.ac.uk
Moniz
Caje
C
Close
Jacqueline C T
JC
Jackson
Stephen H D
SH
Allain
Theresa J
TJ
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D014807:Vitamin D