Underutilization of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements in an Academic Long-Term Care Facility

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Good scientific evidence indicates that calcium and vitamin D supplementation decrease the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures among institutionalized elderly. <h3>Objective</h3> The objective was to study the frequency of prescribing calcium and vitamin D supplements in elderly institutionalized individuals in a large community teaching nursing home. <h3>Methods</h3> A cross-sectional chart review study of 177 consecutively located elderly residents from an 899-bed academic long-term care facility. <h3>Results</h3> Calcium and vitamin D supplements were prescribed in only 12% and 9% of subjects, respectively. Among subjects with the diagnosis of osteoporosis (n = 12), 66% were prescribed calcium and 58% were prescribed vitamin D supplements. Among subjects with hip fractures (n = 8), only 25% were prescribed calcium with a similar percentage prescribed vitamin D supplements. Female residents were more likely than male residents to receive calcium (<i>P</i> <0.05) and vitamin D supplements (<i>P</i> = 0.08). <h3>Conclusion</h3> There is a major need to increase the utilization of calcium and vitamin D supplementation among institutionalized elderly to decrease the risk of osteoporotic fractures, including hip fractures.