Abstract

FERNANDEZ DEL BUEY, Rosa María; CASTRO BARRIO, Manuel; MARTINEZ GORDILLO, Nuria  and  RUIZ SANZ, Eduardo. Hypovitaminosis D in elderly population in nursing home: associated variables and geriatric assessment. Gerokomos [online]. 2016, vol.27, n.4, pp.153-156. ISSN 1134-928X.

Introduction: Most recent data suggest that the vitamin D deficiency is frequent in the elderly, and it is specially prevalent among patients in the nursing home. In addition, the vitamin D plays a significant role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism and affects other health outcomes like mortality and risk of falls. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, which risk factors are related and the utility of geriatric assessment tools. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Population: 83 residents in the nursing home "Gerontos",Pedrezuela, Madrid, Spain. It was developed from January 2014 to December 2015. Sociodemographic, clinical variables, blood test were measured: hemoglobin, creatinine, urea, albumin and 25 (OH) vitamin D. Functional status according to the Barthel Index and cognitive status by Mini-Mental State Examination were recorded. Results: The bivariate analyses identified an association between poor cognitive status and hypovitaminosis D (p 0,007). The prevalence of hipovitaminosis D was 80,7%. Conclusion: the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is high in the elderly population in nursing home. Even though transversal study does not allow a causal link, our results show a relationship between hypovitaminosis D and cognitive impairment. The determination of vitamin D levels in this high risk group and the establishment of the pharmacological supplementation in patients with inadequate levels would be advisable.

Keywords : vitamin D; geriatric assessment; institutionalization; elderly; deficiency; supplementation.

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