DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, and its deficiency has been associated with increased risk of fragility fractures. Low-energy hip fractures are common in the elderly and often indicate underlying metabolic bone disease. Understanding the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this population can guide preventive and therapeutic strategies. Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in patients with low-energy hip fractures presenting to the Orthopedic Department of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Orthopedic Department, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of Study: Six months (27-May-2024 to 27-November-2024). Methods: A total of 95 patients aged above 50 years, diagnosed with low-energy hip fractures, were included in the study. Patients with pathological fractures, high-energy trauma, or prior vitamin D supplementation were excluded. A 5-cc venous blood sample was collected from each participant to measure serum vitamin D levels using standard laboratory methods. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level <20 ng/mL. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate means and standard deviations for continuous variables, and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Results: The mean age of participants was 68.11 ± 10.38 years, with females comprising 61.1% of the study population. The mean serum vitamin D level was 19.35 ± 3.49 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 74.7% of patients with low-energy hip fractures. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients with low-energy hip fractures. Routine screening and appropriate supplementation strategies should be considered to reduce the risk of fractures and improve bone health in this high-risk population.