Provided a minimal calcium intake of more than 512 mg/d, alfacalcidol treatment significantly and safely reduces number of fallers in an elderly community dwelling population.
Recently, a low creatinine clearance (CrCl) of < 65 ml/min was described as a new significant and independent risk factor for the number of fallers and falls in a community-dwelling elderly population. In this study we investigated if a low creatinine clearance of < 65 ml/min is also a risk factor for falls and fractures in elderly men and women treated for osteoporosis. In a cross-sectional study with the help of questionnaires we assessed the prevalence of having experienced falls within the last 12 months according to renal function in 5,313 German men and women receiving treatment for osteoporosis. The CrCl was calculated using the established Cockcroft-Gault formula. The prevalence of falls and fractures was assessed in multivariate-controlled logistic regression models according to a CrCl cut off of 65 ml/min. The P-values were two-sided. In this study of elderly men and women treated for osteoporosis (n=5,313), 60.9% (n=3,238) had a CrCl of < 65 ml/min, which was associated in multivariate controlled analyses, compared to a CrCl of > or = 65 ml/min (n=2,075), with a significant increased risk of experiencing falls (1,775/3,238 vs. 773/2,075, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.50-1.91, P<0.0001) and an increased risk for multiple falls (37.1 vs. 22.6%, OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.42-1.87, P<0.0001). Furthermore, compared to a creatinine clearance of > or = 65 ml/min, a creatinine clearance of < 65 ml/min was also associated with a significant increased multivariate controlled risk for hip fractures (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.18-2.09, P=0.002), for radial fractures (OR 1.79, 95%CI 1.39-2.31, P=<0.0001), for total vertebral fractures (OR 1.31, 95%CI 1.19-1.55, P=0.003) and for fall-associated vertebral fractures (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.54, P=0.031). Similar to community-dwelling elderly, in elderly men and women treated for osteoporosis a CrCl of less than 65 ml/min is a significant and independent risk factor for falls. Furthermore, we could show for the first time that a low creatinine clearance in elderly men and women treated for osteoporosis is also associated with a significantly increased risk of vertebral, hip and radial fractures.
Objectives: Because impaired renal function is detrimental for the conversion of calcidiol to calcitriol (D-hormone) and since D-hormone analogues have been shown to decrease the risk of falls, we investigated whether creatinine clearance (CrCl) is associated with the number of fallers and falls in elderly men and women. Methods: Within a randomized controlled study, we observed for 36 weeks 186 placebo-treated community-dwelling elderly men and women over 70, in an attempt to determine the influence of baseline CrCl on calcitropic hormone serum levels, as well as the influence of baseline CrCl on the number of fallers and falls over time. With the help of questionnaires, we regularly assessed fall incidence and frequency. The risk of falls and the risk of becoming a faller were assessed in multivariate-controlled logistic regression models according to a cutoff value of the CrCl set at 65 ml/min. Results: At baseline, serum levels of 1.25(OH) 2 D 3 and iPTH were, in multivariate-controlled analyses, significantly associated with CrCl (p<0.0001, p=0.001, respectively), whereas serum levels of 25(OH)D 3 were not associated with CrCl. Below a CrCl of 65 ml/min, 1.25(OH) 2 D 3 serum levels steadily declined. We therefore chose a CrCl of 65 ml/min as cutoff for further analyses. During the 36 weeks of observation, elderly people with a CrCl of <65 ml/min had, in multivariate controlled analyses, compared with elderly with a CrCl of ‡65 ml/min, a significantly higher incidence of number of fallers (25/70 vs 21/116; OR=4.01; 95% CI, 1.48-10.98; p=0.006), and a significantly higher incidence of falls (28/70 vs 23/ 116; OR=3.68; 95% CI, 1.38-9.82; p=0.009). Conclusions: For the first time we showed that in a communitydwelling population of elderly men and women, a CrCl of less than 65 ml/min is a significant and independent risk factor for fallers and falls.
The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the antifall efficacy of native vitamin D to that of its hydroxylated analogs alfacalcidol and calcitriol. Randomized clinical trials comparing oral native vitamin D and its analogs alfacalcidol and calcitriol to a placebo were included. Sources included the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, MEDLINE, a hand search of abstracts, as well as reference lists. The time range was January 1995 to May 2007. Data were abstracted and scored by two investigators. The core analysis was based on double-blind trials, while open trials were included as a robustness analysis. Relative risks (RRs) for falls while allocated to D-hormone analogs or vitamin D were calculated. Publication bias and robustness were formally tested. Fourteen trials including 21,268 subjects were included. Using double-blind data only, vitamin D-hormone analogs provided a statistically significant lower level of risk for falling compared to native vitamin D: RR = 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.64-0.96) vs. 0.94 (0.87-1.01) (intergroup difference P = 0.049). The dropout rates observed in the two sets of trials were comparable: 0.33% per month. Publication bias investigation did not report any significant trend for selective publication favoring active treatment arms. Upon current evidence, D-hormone analogs seem to prevent falls to a greater extent than their native compound. Long-term, prospective, head-to-head, confirmatory trials are required to address the exact role of vitamin D and D-hormone analogs in the prevention of falls and fractures.
We previously observed that a creatinine clearance (CrCl) of <65 ml/min is a significant and independent risk factor for the number of fallers and falls in a community-dwelling elderly population and postulated that this increased risk is due to the associated significant lower D-hormone serum levels. To test our hypothesis, we investigated in a post hoc analysis of a double-blind randomized study whether treatment with alfacalcidol, a synthetic prodrug of the D-hormone, can reduce the high incidence of fallers and the high risk of falls associated with low CrCl. Of 378 Swiss community-dwelling women (n=191) and men (n=187), aged 70 years and older, 191 received randomly 1 lg capsules of alfacalcidol (AlphaD3: Teva), and 187 received one capsule of placebo daily. With the help of questionnaires we regularly assessed the incidence and frequency of falls. The risk of becoming a faller and the risk of falling were assessed in multivariate-controlled logistic regression models according to treatment groups and according to a CrCl cut-off of 65 ml/min. The presented results are from ITT analyses. In participants with a CrCl of <65 ml/min, the 36 weeks of treatment with alfacalcidol was, compared with placebo, associated with a significant reduction in the number of fallers (14/72 versus 25/70; OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.80, P=0.019), and a significant reduction of the number of falls (16/72 versus 28/70; OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.88, P=0.028). No such association was observed in participants with a CrCl of ‡65 ml/min (for fallers 26/120 versus 21/116; OR 0.92 95% CI 0.34-2.52, P=0.875; for falls 32/120 versus 23/116; OR 0.93 95% CI 0.34-2.54, P=0.885). In the placebo group frequency of falls was dependent on CrCl (P=0.006), whereas in the alfacalcidol treatment group frequency of falls was independent of CrCl (P=0.494). No cases of clinically relevant hypercalcemia were observed. In a community-dwelling population of elderly men and women with a CrCl of <65 ml/min, treatment with alfacalcidol can significantly and safely reduce the low CrCl associated increased number of fallers and the high risk of falls.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.