To Treat or Not To Treat, That Is the Question: Proceedings of the Quebec Symposium for the Treatment of Osteoporosis in Long-Term Care Institutions, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, November 5, 2004

Vitamin D supplementation in older adults: searching for specific guidelines in nursing homes

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency is very high in the nursing home (NH) population. Paradoxically, vitamin D insufficiency is rarely treated despite of strong clinical evidence and recommendations for supplementation. This review aims at reporting the current knowledge of vitamin D supplementation in NH and proposing recommendations adapted to the specificities of this institutional setting.

DESIGN

Current literature on vitamin D supplementation for NH residents was narratively presented and discussed by the French Group of Geriatrics and Nutrition.

RESULT

Vitamin D supplementation is a safe and well-tolerated treatment. Most residents in NH have vitamin D insufficiency, and would benefit from vitamin D supplement. However, only few residents are actually treated. Current specific and personalized protocols for vitamin D supplementation may not be practical for use in NH settings (e.g., assessment of serum vitamin D concentrations before and after supplementation). Therefore, our group proposes a model of intervention based on the systematic supplementation of vitamin D (1,000 IU/day) since the patient's admission to the NH and throughout his/her stay without the need of a preliminary evaluation of the baseline levels. Calcium should be prescribed only in case of poor dietary calcium intake.

CONCLUSION

A population-based rather than individual-based approach may probably improve the management of vitamin D insufficiency in the older population living in NH, without increasing the risks of adverse health problems. The clinical relevance and cost effectiveness of this proposal should be assessed under NH real-world conditions to establish its feasibility.

What are the beliefs, attitudes and practices of front-line staff in long-term care (LTC) facilities related to osteoporosis awareness, management and fracture prevention?

BACKGROUND

Compared to the general elderly population, those institutionalized in LTC facilities have the highest prevalence of osteoporosis and subsequently have higher incidences of vertebral and hip fractures. The goal of this study is to determine how well nurses at LTC facilities are educated to properly administer bisphosphonates. A secondary question assessed was the nurse's and PSW's attitudes and beliefs regarding the role and benefits of vitamin D for LTC patients.

METHODS

Eight LTC facilities in Hamilton were surveyed, and all nurses were offered a survey. A total 57 registered nurses were surveyed. A 21 item questionnaire was developed to assess existing management practices and specific osteoporosis knowledge areas.

RESULTS

The questionnaire assessed the nurse's and personal support worker's (PSWs) education on how to properly administer bisphosphonates by having them select all applicable responses from a list of options. These options included administering the drug before, after or with meals, given with or separate from other medications, given with juice, given with or without water, given with the patient sitting up, or finally given with the patient supine. Only 52% of the nurses and 8.7% of PSWs administered the drug properly, where they selected the options: (given before meals, given with water, given separate from all other medications, and given in a sitting up position). If at least one incorrect option was selected, then it was scored as an inappropriate administration. Bisphosphonates were given before meals by 85% of nurses, given with water by 90%, given separately from other medication by 71%, and was administered in an upright position by 79%. Only 52% of the nurses and 8.7% of PSWs surveyed were administering the drug properly. Regarding the secondary question, of the 57 nurses surveyed, 68% strongly felt their patients should be prescribed vitamin D supplements. Of the 124 PSWs who completed the survey, 44.4% strongly felt their patients should be prescribed vitamin D supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Bisphosphonates are quite effective in increasing the bone mineral density of LTC patients, and may reduce fracture rates, but it is only effective if properly administered. In our study, proper administration of bisphosphonate therapy was less than optimal. In summary, although the education of health providers has improved since the mid-1990's, this area still requires further attention and the subject of future quality assurance research.

Pharmacological management of osteoporosis in nursing home populations: a systematic review

Nursing home (NH) residents fall 11 times as frequently as their age-matched community-dwelling counterparts. The benefits of fall prevention strategies and hip protectors in terms of fracture risk in this setting are unclear. Moreover, there is no consensus on the efficacy of osteoporosis medication in NH residents. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of medications for osteoporosis in this population and to examine utilization studies in the NH setting to define prescribing practices. Electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were supplemented with a hand search of bibliographies. All English-language studies published between January 1, 1974, and December 31, 2006, that studied osteoporosis pharmacotherapy in the NH environment were obtained, and studies of medication benefits and utilization patterns were identified. No restrictions were placed on study method. Studies required inclusion of NH patients and extractable data with bone mineral density (BMD) or fracture outcomes. Forty full-text articles were retrieved, of which 15 studies met selection criteria. In the nine studies examining medication effects, calcium (1,200 mg) and vitamin D (800 IU) supplementation were shown to reduce fracture risk and improve BMD. One study supported the role of alendronate, but none documented the utility of raloxifene, calcitonin, or teriparatide in NH residents. All six medication utilization studies reported infrequent use of osteoporosis medications (9-25%). Prescribing for elderly NH patients is difficult, considering the risk:benefit ratio and issues of longevity, but these medications may be underused in the NH environment.

Screening for osteoporosis: a survey of older psychiatric inpatients at a tertiary referral centre

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis causes much morbidity and mortality among elderly people. Older inpatients with severe mental illness may be at particular risk of osteoporosis because of factors including immobility, vitamin D deficiency and psychotropic medication.

METHOD

We screened predominantly older inpatients with severe mental illness for osteoporosis using a peripheral DEXA scanner. Associations were examined between patient variables and osteoporosis as detected by DEXA scan, Z-scores and history of fragility fractures. Patients were followed up to see how many subsequently received drug treatment for osteoporosis. Patient acceptability of the scanning technique was also assessed.

RESULTS

It was possible to scan 72/89 (81%) of patients. Mean T-score was -2.79 (SD 1.50) and mean Z-score -0.76 (SD 1.34). Forty-two (58%) patients had osteoporosis and 23 (32%) osteopenia. Twelve (17%) patients with a history of fragility fractures had osteoporosis on DEXA scan. A scan suggestive of osteoporosis and a history of fragility fractures were both associated with age of 75 years and over and thoracic kyphosis. Low Z-scores were associated with longer hospital stay and osteoporosis-predisposing drugs. Patient acceptability of scanning was high. At follow-up, only 7/16 (44%) patients were suitable for central scanning and 9/40 (23%) for bisphosphonates.

CONCLUSION

Older institutional patients with severe mental illness are likely to be at high risk of developing osteoporosis. Peripheral DEXA scanning is acceptable to these patients and identifies those at high risk of fractures. Some behaviorally disturbed patients are not suitable for central scans or for some osteoporosis drug treatments.

Frailty, osteoporosis and hip fracture: causes, consequences and therapeutic perspectives

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review of the literature is to report the factors which both contribute to the frailty syndrome and increase hip fracture risk in the elderly. This work is the fruit of common reflection by geriatricians, endocrinologists, gynecologists and rheumatologists, and seeks to stress the importance of detection and management of the various components of frailty in elderly subjects who are followed and treated for osteoporosis. It also sets out to heighten awareness of the need for management of osteoporosis in the frail elderly.

DESIGN

The current literature on frailty and its links with hip fracture was reviewed and discussed by the group.

RESULTS

The factors and mechanisms which are common to both osteoporosis and frailty (falls, weight loss, sarcopenia, low physical activity, cognitive decline, depression, hormones such as testosterone, estrogens, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH), vitamin D and pro-inflammatory cytokines) were identified. The obstacles to access to diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in the frail elderly population and common therapeutic pathways for osteoporosis and frailty were discussed.

CONCLUSION

Future research including frail subjects would improve our understanding of how management of frailty can can contribute to lower the incidence of fractures. In parallel, more systematic management of osteoporosis should reduce the risk of becoming frail in the elderly population.

Evidence rocks in long-term care, but does it roll?

This article reviews the problems with the implementation of evidence-based care in long-term care. It highlights the fact that many common practices are incompatible with evidence and that available evidence, including evidence about inadvisable and ineffective treatments, is often not followed. Often, there is a tendency to follow recommendations for younger persons (for example, the management of hypertension and elevated cholesterol), or to use questionable interventions (for example, choices for treating constipation). In many cases, the treatments used have only marginal efficacy and increased potential for side effects. This article makes recommendations for improving the approach to evidence-based care in long-term care and strongly urges the FDA to require drug studies in nursing homes.