The Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Patient with Fragility Hip Fracture at a Single Institution in Thailand
Suchat Phusunti MD*, Worasit Suthutvoravut MD*, Aasis Unnanuntana MD, MSc*, Pojchong Chotiyarnwong PhD, MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : The proportion of people aged 65 years or older continues to increase in Thailand. Consistent with that trend,
the number of fragility fracture patients is increasing. Hypovitaminosis D is one of the important factors associated with
fragility fracture.
Objective : To evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with
fragility hip fracture in Thailand.
Material and Method: This study retrospectively reviewed 25(OH)D level in fragility hip fracture patients treated at Siriraj
Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015.
Results : Three hundred seventy nine fragility hip fractures were included in this study. Two hundred sixty eight of those
patients had serum 25(OH)D level available within one month after fracture. Mean age of patients was 80.8±8.3 years and
74.6% were women. One hundred twenty four patients (46.3%) had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) and 86 patients
(32.1%) had vitamin D insufficiency (20 to 30 ng/mL). Parathyroid hormone level was available in 159 of 268 patients, and
31.5% of those had hyperparathyroidism (PTH level >65 pg/mL).
Conclusion : Orthopedists who treat fragility hip fracture should always include treatment of vitamin D deficiency in their
patient management plan. Future studies should establish treatment guidelines regarding dose and duration of vitamin D
supplementation in fragility hip fracture patients.
Keywords : Hip fractures, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Vitamin D deficiency, Hypovitaminosis D, 25(OH)D, Vitamin D insufficiency, Osteoporosis
