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Short-term vitamin D plus calcium did not prevent falls more than calcium alone in elderly inpatients

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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 …

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Footnotes

  • Source of funding: Strakan Pharmaceuticals supplied study drugs.