Underutilization of calcium and vitamin D supplements in an academic long-term care facility

BACKGROUND: Good scientific evidence indicates that calcium and vitamin D supplementation decrease the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures among institutionalized elderly. OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: A cross-sectional chart review study of 177 consecutively located elderly residents from an 899-bed academic long-term care facility. RESULTS: 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 (P <0.05) and vitamin D supplements (P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: 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.