Short-term vitamin D plus calcium did not prevent falls more than calcium alone in elderly inpatients
E Burleigh
Dr E Burleigh, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, UK; Liz.Burleigh@sgh.scot.nhs.uk
QUESTION
In elderly hospital inpatients, does vitamin D plus calcium prevent falls more than calcium alone?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients, {clinicians, data collectors, data analysts, and outcome assessors}*).
Follow-up period:
until discharge, transfer to another unit, or death (median hospital stay 30 d).
Setting:
an acute geriatric unit in a UK hospital.
Patients:
205 inpatients (median age 84 y, 59% women, 85% had a history of falls) who were ⩾65 years of age and newly transferred or admitted to general assessment or rehabilitation wards. Exclusion criteria included known hypercalcaemia, urolithiasis, renal dialysis therapy, terminal status, bed-bound with a reduced Glasgow Coma Scale, current use of calcium and vitamin D supplements, and designation of “nil …
