scholarly journals Vitamin D Supplementation for the Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities: A 2021 Update

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Srabani Banerjee ◽  
Holly Gunn ◽  
Carolyn Spry

The relevant publications identified comprised 1 overview of systematic reviews and 2 systematic reviews. There is a suggestion that for seniors living in long-term care facilities, compared to control, vitamin D supplementation, with or without calcium, may reduce the rate of falls and fractures; however, the reductions were not always statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of seniors who fell with vitamin D supplementation, with or without calcium, compared with control groups. Findings need to be interpreted with caution, considering the limitations such as primary studies of variable quality (critically low to moderate) and lack of clarity with respect to the type of long-term care setting. No cost-effectiveness studies regarding vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of falls and fractures in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities were identified. No evidence-based guidelines regarding vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of falls and fractures in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities were identified.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keeley Farrell ◽  
Jennifer Horton

The results of 1 systematic review suggest that supplementation with vitamin D may provide some benefit for cancer-related mortality in older adults. It is unclear whether there is a benefit of vitamin D supplementation for all-cause mortality; however, no benefit was found for cardiovascular disease mortality, cardiovascular disease events, or cancer incidence. There is limited and mixed evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older adults. The results of 1 systematic review suggest that vitamin D supplementation may provide protection against acute respiratory infections in the overall population; however, this result was not significant in the subgroup of patients older than 65 years. No evidence-based guidelines were identified regarding vitamin D supplementation for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other conditions in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities.


1992 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. MacEntee ◽  
Rachel T. Weiss ◽  
Nancy E. Waxier-Morrison ◽  
Brenda J. Morrison

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Novo-Veleiro ◽  
Martín Vidal-Vazquez ◽  
Néstor Vázquez-Agra ◽  
Eduardo-David Otero Rodríguez ◽  
Paula Andújar-Plata ◽  
...  

Introduction: COVID-19 have been a challenge for healthcare, mainly in elderly patients in Nursing Homes (NHs) and Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs). We present a pioneering novel experience in addressing healthcare of very elderly patients with COVID-19 in these facilities by a reconversion of a NH in a medicalized NH. Methods: All patients admitted to the center were included, recording clinical and epidemiological variables. We conducted a descriptive analysis and a multivariate analysis to identify variables linked to mortality and persistence of positive PCR test. Results: we included 84 patients (40% men), women presented more symptomatology. We found a positive correlation between the duration of symptoms and the days required to obtain a negative PCR test (r=0.512, P<0.001). We also found an independent and significative association between asthenia (OR=2.58; IC95% 1.22–5.46) and mutism (OR=5.21; IC95% 1.58–17.15) and a longer time to achieve a negative PCR test. All patients, except contraindication, were treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, which was the recommended treatment during the period of the study. The early start of corticoid treatment (within the first 72 hours since the start of symptoms) was linked to a lower mortality in patients with moderate-severe symptoms. Mortality was lower than expected (which was higher than 20% in that period and group of age), reaching 14%, the main factors linked to mortality were the presence of mutism (OR=19; IC95% 3.4–108; P=0.001) and dyspnea (OR=12; IC95% 1.3–111; P=0.029). Conclusions: We present an alternative system for the care of these patients through the reconversion of a basic NH in a medicalized one, which showed a significant reduction in the expected mortality.


Author(s):  
Susan J. Whiting ◽  
Wenbin Li ◽  
Nirmal Singh ◽  
Jacqueline Quail ◽  
William Dust ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4160-4160
Author(s):  
Bahareh Motlagh ◽  
Madeleine M. Verhovsek ◽  
Alexandra Papaioannou ◽  
Crowther Mark ◽  
Lisa Dolovich ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite evidence-based guidelines derived from large clinical trials supporting the use of warfarin for stroke prophylaxis, studies in elderly patients have shown that oral anticoagulants are not used optimally. The risk associated with inappropriate use is compounded by the observation that the elderly are at enhanced risk of thromboembolic complications compared with younger atrial fibrillation patients. All patients with atrial fibrillation who do not have a contraindication to warfarin, and who meet inclusion criteria, should be treated with warfarin to achieve a target International Normalized Range (INR) of 2.5 (range 2.0–3.0). INR levels of 2.0–3.0 have been shown to be relatively safe and more efficacious than lower target INR values in all age groups including the elderly. Patients with INR values below this range remain at increased risk of thrombosis, while those with INR values above the given range are at increased risk of bleeding. The primary objective of this study was to determine the achieved intensity of warfarin therapy in a cohort of patients living at long-term care facility. In such facilities optimal anticoagulation should be achievable, since laboratory monitoring, dose adjustment, and compliance can be achieved. In this study, data were collected on physicians’ warfarin prescribing practices as well as INR levels of 108 residents in five long-term care facilities in the Hamilton-Wentworth area over a period of 12 months. In total, 3146 INR values, extending over 28,256 patient-days of monitoring, were analyzed. Indications for warfarin were atrial fibrillation, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolus, cardiac valve replacement, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis. In general, the warfarin dosage was not determined using an established dosing algorithm. Our findings revealed that LTC residents spent approximately 40 percent of the time with INR values below 2.0. We therefore conclude, that the overall quality of anticoagulant therapy in long-term care patients may be inadequate. Our observations suggest that organized dosing algorithms may be of benefit in such settings, however this hypothesis needs to be confirmed in prospective studies. For this purpose we plan to implement a warfarin dosing algorithm in order to determine whether the percentage of time spent within the therapeutic INR range can be improved.


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