Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in short stay departments of nursing homes: a nursing home physician’s task. This research shows that nursing home physicians might play an important part in the diagnostics and treatment of vitamin-D deficiency. 96 rehabilitating elderly who had undergone a hip operation were investigated. 36% had a vitamin-D deficiency (vitamin-D<30nmol/l). Vitamin-D deficiency was 53 % in the fracture group and 26 % in the arthritis group. Deficiencies were treated with vitamin-D medication. After the patient’s discharge the general practitioner was sent a questionnaire. The results show that general practitioners agree to nursing home physicians’ investigating vitamin-D deficiencies and to nursing home physicians’ initiating vitamin-D medication in case of a deficiency. The general practitioners themselves do not often investigate vitamin-D deficiency.
Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 2007; 38:147-153