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Vitamin D Deficiency in Elderly Patients in a General Hospital
Author(s) -
Goldray D.,
MizrahiSasson E.,
Merdler C.,
EdelsteinSinger M.,
Algoetti A.,
Eisenberg Z.,
Jaccard N.,
Weisman Y.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb01247.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d deficiency , vitamin d and neurology , serum concentration , alkaline phosphatase , gastroenterology , serum albumin , endocrinology , enzyme , biochemistry , chemistry
Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) levels were measured in 338 elderly patients admitted to the Geriatric Medicine Departments of a general hospital in Israel in the course of one year. The mean (±SD) serum 25‐OHD levels were significantly lower (P < .01) in the elderly patients (13.5 ± 8.9 ng/mL) than in healthy young controls (24.7 ± 6.1 ng/mL). One hundred ten patients (35.5%) were either vitamin D deficient (25‐OHD < 5 ng/mL) or had borderline serum levels of 25‐OHD (5–9 ng/mL). The mean (±SD) serum 25‐OHD concentration of patients who were completely mobile before hospitalization was 15.5 ± 8.8 ng/mL (n = 239). In patients mainly immobilized but able to leave the house occasionally, it was 10.2 ± 6.3 ng/mL (n = 84) and of bed‐ridden patients, it was 5.2 ± 3.2 ng/mL (n = 15). No correlation was found between serum 25‐OHD levels and the patients' age or serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin values. Thus, in order to detect vitamin D deficiency in the elderly, it is necessary to measure serum 25‐OHD concentration. The results demonstrate that vitamin D deficiency is common among elderly patients even in sunny climates and indicate the need for development of effective programs of prevention and treatment.