Vitamin D level among patients referred by general practitioners to the Geriatric Ward

Introduction and Objective. The elderly are particularly affected by vitamin D deficiency. However, screening tests are not required to begin vitamin D supplementation in the elderly. The aim of the study was to analyze the vitamin D level among patients at least 60 years old referred by primary general practitioners to the Geriatric Department of the District Hospital in Jaslo, southeastern Poland, depending on age, referral mode and presence of frailty syndrome.Materials and method. The study included 601 patients aged 60 years and over, hospitalized during the period 1 October 2016 - 31 December 2017 at the Geriatric Department of the District Hospital in Jaslo. The serum concentration of 25OH-D was tested on the first day of their hospitalization.Results. The proper level of 25OH-vitamin D (>75 nmol/l) was found in 17.35 % (N=104) of patients, the least frequent in the oldest (15.0%, N=41 of 80-year-olds; 7.1%, N=5 of 90-year-olds; p=0.000). The low level of 25OH-vitamin D (< 50 nmol/l) was present in 59.7% (N= 359), including significantly low (<25 nmol/l) in 27.6% (N=166) of patients. Significant deficiency was more frequent among the oldest (61.4%, N=43 of 90-year-olds), with frailty syndrome (43.9%, N=132; p=0.000) and referred urgently (49.7%, N=96; p=0.000). Before hospitalization, vitamin D had been used by 15.5% (N=53) of patients, more often women than men (18.8%, N=81 v. 7.0%, N=12; p=0.000) and referred on schedule than urgently (18.1%, N=73 v. 9.8 %, N=19; p=0.000). No differences were fund by age and frailty syndrome.Conclusions. Despite common knowledge of the pleiotropic role in maintaining health, supplementation of vitamin D is still an unsolved problem among the elderly.

Automated summary

This study investigated the vitamin D levels of elderly patients in a hospital in southeastern Poland and analyzed the impact of age, referral mode, and frailty syndrome on vitamin D levels. The results showed that vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly, especially in older patients, those with frailty syndrome, and those urgently referred. Furthermore, only a small percentage of patients had received vitamin D supplementation before hospitalization.