Hip Fractures in Malta: Are we Missing an Opportunity?
Surg J (N Y). 2021 Jul 22;7(3):e184-e190. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731635
Mark Bugeja 1, Arthur Curmi 1, Daniel Desira 1, Gregory Apap Bologna 1, Francesco Galea 1, Ivan Esposito 1
Probably less than 10% of all Vitamin D prescriptions are large enough to be of a benefit
- Why are doctors reluctant to accept vitamin D
- Do not expect your doctor to know about vitamin D
- Do not expect a doctor to recommend a pill which will eliminate his job (vitamin D)
- Curing patients is not a sustainable business model – Goldman Sachs – April 2018
- VITAMIN D: Public Shouldn’t Wait For Doctors To Usher In New “Golden Era” Of Preventive Medicine
- Let 1000 die from vitamin D deficiency rather than incur 1 lawsuit
- Survey Shows Dogma Not Data Can Dictate Doctors' Decisions - June 2010
Suspect that 50% of hip fractures could be avoided by proactively getting enough vitamin D, exercise, etc
Falls and Fractures category contains the following
230 items in FALLS and FRACTURES - Vitamin D and Calcium cost-effectively reduce falls and fractures – April 2019
- see also Overview Seniors and Vitamin D
Falls
- Deaths due to falls doubled in just a decade (age-adjusted, perhaps decreased vitamin D) – June 2019
- Preventing Falls in Older Adults – Vitamin D combination is the best - JAMA Meta-analysis Nov 2017
- Falls cut in half by 100,000 IU vitamin D monthly - RCT 2016
- Falls reduced by a third if achieved 40 ng level vitamin D– RCT Sept 2018
- Note: Took 6 months to get to that level. Most trials last only 3 months
- Vitamin D prevents falls – majority of meta-analyses conclude – meta-meta analysis Feb 2015
- Falls reduced by Vitamin D: 13 percent reduction if more than 700 IU – review of 38 trials – Aug 2022
Fracture
- Vitamin D and fractures – 24 meta-analyses and counting – Dec 2014
- Low trauma bone fractures in seniors – considering Vitamin D loading dose for all, without testing – Nov 2019
- Vitamin K (any amount and any kind) reduced bone fractures by 24 percent – meta-analysis – May 2019
- Hip fracture in VitaminDWiki title (67 as of Aug 2022)
Bone - Health category starts with the following
295 items in Bone - Health category
See also- Overviews: Osteoporosis, Fractures, Rickets Dental Hair
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15 articles are in both Bone and Magnesium categories 28 articles are in both Bone and Vitamin K2 categories 17 articles are in both Bone and Sports categories 8 articles are in both Bone and Meta-analysis categories 23 articles are in both Fractures and Meta-analysis categories - Healthy bones need: Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Silicon, Vitamin K, and Boron – 2012
- VitaminDWiki pages with BONE MINERAL DENSITY or BMD in title 22 pages as of Oct 2021
- Hearing loss is associated with soft bones in ear
- Perhaps prevented and treated by Vitamin D
Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki
Introduction Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is both preventable and treatable. It usually becomes evident when a fragility fracture occurs. Unfortunately, most studies show that only a small percentage of individuals at increased risk of fracture are assessed and treated, even following a fragility fracture.
Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether patients suffering from a low-energy hip fractures in the Maltese Islands are given osteoporosis treatment. Method All patients older than 50 years presenting to the acute care hospitals in Malta and Gozo with a fragility hip fracture during December 1, 2015 and November 30, 2016 were included. Data on mortality, other fragility fractures, prescription of calcium, vitamin D, and antiresorptive therapy were collected.
Results Calcium with vitamin D supplements were prescribed to 40% of patients; however, only 2.64% of patients were given pharmacological therapy. Following a hip fracture, the mortality rate was 18.5% at 1 year and 26.21% at 2 years. Apart from a high mortality rate, 28.19% of individuals sustained another fragility fracture before or after the hip fracture.
Conclusion There should be increased osteoporosis awareness in Malta and a national bone mineral density screening program should be set up. An active role of the orthogeriatrics team in the management and treatment of osteoporosis following a fragility fracture might improve treatment rate and decrease refracture and mortality rates.
Less than 3 percent of hip fracture patients prescribed enough Vitamin D to make a difference (Malta in this case) – July 2021Printer Friendly PDF this page! Follow this page for updates1371 visitors, last modified 26 Jul, 2021, This page is in the following categories (# of items in each category)