title: The association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and recurrent falls in the elderly population: a cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum vitamin D concentration is a major contributing factor for increasing the risk of fall and fall-related injuries in older adults. However, when prescribed and supplemented for these populations, the outcomes are controversial, and in several cases no improvement has been reported in reducing the risk of recurrent falls. This study aimed to examine the association between serum vitamin D concentration and recurrent falls in Iranian older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cohort study was conducted in the emergency departments of two university hospitals. A cohort of 82 elderly participants aged over 60 and suffered from an unintentional episode of falling was evaluated six months after their first ED visit. A structured, self-administered checklist was developed to obtain the participants' demographic and clinical information. Participants also were asked about any recurrent fall experience during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) age of the study population was 75 (8). Over half of the participants were male (57.3%). The mean (median) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH)D) concentration was 38 (34) ng/ml. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels varied slightly between gender groups (p=0.450). An inverse but insignificant association was found between the age of participants and their serum 25(OH)D levels (r=-0.03, p=0.7). A small but insignificant association also was found between the mean serum 25(OH)D level and the number of recurrent falls in elderly patients irrespective of their age, gender, or physical activity groups (OR=1.008, p=0.992).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to previous studies, no significant association of serum 25(OH)D concentration was found with recurrent falls in Iranian older adults.
authors.affiliation: MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Management Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed Basir
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ghafouri
authors.affiliation: MS, Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.affiliation: MS, Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazrafshan
authors.affiliation: MD, MPH, Emergency Medicine Physician, Boali Hospital, Quazvin University of Medical Science, Quazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Modirian
authors.affiliation: MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Shohada-e- Hafe Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afkham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: MD, Trauma and Injury Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abazarian
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Elderly; Iran; Vitamin D insufficiency; falls