Vitamin D Levels, Physical and Biochemical Characteristicsof South East Asian Patients with Osteoporotic Hip Fractures

Abstract

Objective. Limited information exists on the physical characteristics, bone mineral density (BMD), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and other biochemical parameters in patients with hip fractures in Asia. We aimed to explore whether these parameters differ between trochanteric and femoral neck (cervical) hip fractures in Singaporean patients. Methodology. 275 patients with osteoporotic hip fractures were evaluated. Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the relationship between physical characteristics, biochemical parameters, renal function, BMD and type of hip fracture. Results. The mean 25(OH)D level noted was 20.4 (8.1) ng/mL. Fifty percent of patients had levels less than 20 ng/mL. Patients with trochanteric fractures were heavier than those with cervical fractures (p=0.021). Logistic regression analysis showed that males were more likely to have trochanteric fractures (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.03-3.11), and females with trochanteric fractures were older than those with cervical fractures (OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00). Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in half of our population of hip fracture patients. Trochanteric fractures were more common than cervical fractures in men and in older women. In contrast to findings noted in Caucasian populations, neither BMD nor other bone metabolic parameters examined were associated with the preferential occurrence of one type of osteoporotic hip fracture over the other.