One-Year Mortality Due to Hip Fracture Following a Single Dose of Intramuscular Vitamin D

Abstract

Background: Hip fractures due to osteoporosis in elderly are an important health-related concern of community. Hypovitaminosis D is an underlying reason of osteoporosis that can cause hip fracture. In the current study, the effect of single-dose of intramuscular vitamin D on mortality due to intertrochanteric fracture was assessed. Methods: This was a clinical-trial study on 55 patients with intertrochanteric fracture. Patients were randomly divided to two groups of 31 cases under intramuscular vitamin D therapy (Case), and 24 cases without any remedy (Control). Basal vitamin D level was checked. Then, cases were treated with single dose of intramuscular vitamin D (300000 units). Age, gender, and comorbidities were recorded in a checklist. Findings: Cases had mean age of 77.3 ± 11.1 years and controls 78.5 ± 10.2 years (P = 0.69). Gender distribution (P = 0.55), type of fracture based on Evans fracture criteria (P = 0.63), and basal vitamin D (P = 0.50) were not significantly different between the two groups. The mortality rate was 35% in cases and 25% in controls, that was not statistically different (P = 0.40). Age, duration of hospitalization, diabetes mellitus, and type of fracture were predictive factors of mortality due to intertrochantric fracture (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Single dose of intramuscular vitamin D was not effective on one-year mortality of patients with intertrochantric fracture. Age, duration of hospitalization, diabetes mellitus, and unstable fracture were directly in association with one-year mortality of intertrochantric fracture.

Keywords

• Hip fractures
• Vitamin D
• Osteoporosis