Very frail older people constitute an increasing proportion of ageing populations and often have vitamin D deficiency. Falls are frequent in this population and have usually been associated with vitamin D deficiency. In this prospective study we measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), serum PTH, and falls in 637 ambulatory subjects living in institutional aged care facilities (intermediate-care hostels or nursing homes). The study sample comprised 121 men (mean age, 82.1 yr) and 516 women (mean age, 86.7 yr). Two hundred and seventy-four subjects fell one or more times over a mean duration of follow-up of 10.2 months. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum 25OHD level below 39 nmol/liter was present in 73.6%. Baseline serum 25OHD and PTH were significantly associated with falls in univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses that also corrected for balance and health status, PTH remained a significant predictor of falls independent of 25OHD. Serum PTH is a predictor of time to first fall in the frail elderly independent of vitamin D status and measures of general health.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Clinical Sciences
Research Field:	Rheumatology and Arthritis
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Skeletal System and Disorders (incl. Arthritis)
Author:	Zochling, JM (Dr Jane Zochling)
ID Code:	62641
Year Published:	2004
Web of Science® Times Cited:	67
Deposited By:	Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Deposited On:	2010-03-15
Last Modified:	2010-05-04
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