Vitamin D deficiency in patients with fragility hip fractures treated at a quaternary care hospital in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lower bone density, increased frequency of falls, and greater risk of fragility fractures.

Objective: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of older adults with fragility hip fractures treated at a hospital in Medellín (Colombia) and to establish the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in these patients.

Methodology: Retrospective descriptive study. A total of 440 patients >60 years of age with fragility hip fractures treated at a quaternary hospital in Medellín (Colombia) between 2021 and 2023 were included. Data were collected based on the review of their medical records. The level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D assessed within 72 hours after the fall was considered.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 81.55 years (±8.89), and 70.23% (n=309) were women. The most common risk factors for fragility fractures were smoking (39.09%; n=172), history of fragility fracture (13.64%; n=60), and having osteoporosis/osteopenia (10.91%; n=48). Moreover, 88.63% (n=390) had at least one comorbidity, the most frequent being hypertension (72.27%; n=318). Meanwhile, 78.18% (n=344) had an extracapsular fracture, 91.81% (n=404) underwent surgery, 37.73% (n=166) developed at least one complication, and 30-day mortality was 12.27% (n=57). Finally, 78.86% (n=347) had low vitamin D levels (deficiency: 6.82%; insufficiency: 72.05%).

Conclusions: Most patients with fragility hip fractures were elderly, female, and had at least one comorbidity. Furthermore, extracapsular fractures and surgery were predominant, with a high complication rate being observed. Lastly, more than three-thirds of patients had low vitamin D levels, mainly 25-OH vitamin D insufficiency.