(Stroke. 2001;32:1673.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions |
From the Department of Neurology, Kurume University Medical Center (Y.S.); Department of Internal Medicine, Futase Social Insurance Hospital, Iizuka (T.A.); and Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine (Y.S., I.K.) and Vascular Biology (K.S.), Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine (Japan).
Correspondence to Dr Yoshihiro Sato, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan. E-mail noukenrs{at}cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
| Abstract |
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5
ng/mL). To determine the effects of vitamin D status on hip fracture
risk, we prospectively studied a cohort of patients with hemiplegia
after stroke who were aged at least 65
years.
MethodsWe compared
baseline serum indices of bone metabolism, bone mineral
density, and hip fracture occurrence in stroke patients with serum
25-OHD
25 nmol/L (
10 ng/mL; deficient group, n=88) with findings in
patients from the same cohort who had 25-OHD levels 26 to 50 nmol/L (10
to 20 ng/mL; insufficient group, n=76) or
51 nmol/L (
21 ng/mL;
sufficient group, n=72).
ResultsOver a 2-year follow-up interval, hip fractures on the paretic side occurred in 7 patients in the deficient group and 1 patient in the insufficient group (P<0.05; hazard ratio=6.5), while no hip fractures occurred in the sufficient group. The 7 hip fracture patients in the deficient group had an osteomalacic 25-OHD level of <5 ng/mL. Higher age and severe immobilization were noted in the deficient group. Serum 25-OHD levels correlated positively with age, Barthel Index, and serum parathyroid hormone.
ConclusionsElderly
disabled stroke patients with serum 25-OHD concentrations
12 nmol/L
(
5 ng/mL) have an increased risk of hip fracture. Immobilization and
advanced age cause severe 25-OHD deficiency and consequent reduction of
BMD.
Key Words: bone diseases elderly hemiplegia osteoporosis
| Introduction |
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Osteomalacia is a generalized bone disorder characterized by impaired mineralization evident as accumulation of unmineralized matrix (osteoid) in the skeleton. The major cause of osteomalacia is vitamin D deficiency,4 5 6 which most often is due to reduced cutaneous production of vitamin D in housebound or hospitalized patients with advanced age or neurological disorders.7 8 9 10 11 12 Serum 25-OHD concentrations have been shown to range from 5 ng/mL to undetectable in osteomalacia related to vitamin D deficiency.12 In patients with such osteomalacia, calcium absorption is low; this leads to mild hypocalcemia causing secondary hyperparathyroidism.6 12
To determine the effects of vitamin D status on the risk of hip fracture, we prospectively studied a cohort of patients with hemiplegia after stroke who were aged at least 65 years.
| Subjects and Methods |
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1.5 mg/dL). Patients with
cardiac failure also were excluded. Patients with a duration of illness
<1 month or total disability (ie, a bedridden state) were excluded.
The diagnosis of stroke was made on the basis of CT performed in both
acute and chronic phases, as well as by clinical examination. Twelve
patients showed no evidence of stroke on CT performed during both acute
and chronic phases and were diagnosed as having brain infarction
because they had rapidly developed hemiplegia lasting >1 month with no
apparent cause other than a vascular origin. Strokes were classified
according to the Classification of Cerebrovascular Diseases (version
III) of the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke.13 On the basis of
previously reported
data,14 15 serum
25-OHD concentration was defined as deficient when
25 nmol/L (
10
ng/mL), insufficient when 26 to 50 nmol/L (10 to 20 ng/mL), and
sufficient when
51 nmol/L (
21 ng/mL). Patients with serum 25-OHD
concentration
12 nmol/L (
5 ng/mL) were considered to have severe
vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacic levels). We compared subsequent hip
fracture occurrence among stroke patients who had been classified into
the 3 subgroups according to their serum 25-OHD levels. We also
compared baseline data of indices of bone metabolism and
bone mineral density (BMD) in the 3 groups. The Barthel Index (BI)16 was assessed in each patient. Clinical severity of hemiplegia was evaluated with the long-term score of the Scandinavian Stroke Scale.17 Osteomalacic myopathy presents with weakness of the limbs, particularly the legs.18 To determine the presence or absence of vitamin Ddeficient (osteomalacic) myopathy, the strength of the gluteus maximus and iliopsoas muscles was evaluated on the nonhemiplegic side with the British Medical Research Council scale,19 in which a score of 0 is defined as no contraction of the tested muscle, while a score of 5 represents normal power. The sum of the scores for the 2 muscles was calculated (maximum total points, 10). Patients completed a questionnaire concerning diet and sunlight exposure. The mean weekly dietary vitamin D intake was calculated for each individual, and patients who consumed less vitamin D than the Japanese recommended daily allowance (100 IU) were defined as low dietary consumers of the vitamin. Sunlight exposure in the preceding year was assessed by patients and graded as almost none, <15 minutes per week, or >15 minutes per week.20
Metacarpal BMD measurements and laboratory values were assessed on study entry to obtain baseline values. Computed x-ray densitometry (CXD) (Teijin Diagnostics)21 employing an improved microdensitometric method was used to quantify BMD in both second metacarpals of each patient, as previously described.22 The computer algorithm for CXD compares bone radiodensity with the gradations of an aluminum step wedge, calculating bone thickness as an aluminum equivalent (mm Al) showing the same x-ray absorption. The reference range for BMD for both sexes combined aged 65 to 75 years was 2.69 to 2.71 mm Al.
On the day of bone evaluation, fasting blood samples were obtained from the 236 patients as previously described.23 24 25 Serum 25-OHD was determined with a competitive protein-binding assay, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] was determined by a radioreceptor assay with the use of calf thymus receptor [Nichols Institute Diagnostics; reference ranges at 65 to 75 years, 46.2 to 61.6 nmol/L for 25-OHD and 105.0 to 152.9 pmol/L for 1,25-(OH)2D]. When 25-OHD was undetectable, attempts were made to measure it in concentrated serum. Ionized calcium in serum prepared freshly under anaerobic conditions was measured with an ion-selective electrode and an ionized calcium analyzer (NOVA Biochemical; reference range in elderly individuals, 1.178 to 1.245 mmol/L). Serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured with a 2-site immunoradiometric assay (Nichols Institute Diagnostics; reference range for elderly individuals, 20 to 32 ng/L). Intact bone Gla protein (BGP), an osteoblastic bone formation marker,26 was measured with an enzyme immunoassay with the use of antibodies to N- and C-terminal regions of human BGP (Teijin Diagnostics; reference range in the elderly, 2.5 to 11.5 µg/L). The pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), an osteoclastic bone resorption marker,27 was measured by radioimmunoassay (Orion Diagnostica; reference range for elderly subjects, 6.0 to 8.2 µg/L). These analyses were performed in the Creative Research Hormone Reference Laboratory at Kurume University. All data obtained were withheld from all authors until completion of the study period to avoid bias.
Informed consent was obtained from all study subjects in the presence of a witness. The protocol for the study was approved by the Human Investigation Committee at the Kurume University and Futase Social Insurance hospitals.
During the 2-year study period, patients were assessed clinically every 2 weeks. In addition to overall clinical status, the question of hip fracture occurrence was specifically addressed at each visit.
Data are presented as mean±SD. Differences in
fracture rate among the 3 groups during the 2 years were tested by
Fishers exact test. Baseline differences for categorical data were
tested by
2 analysis. One-way
ANOVA and Fishers protected least significant difference were used to
assess differences among the 3 stroke groups. Differences of BMD in the
hemiplegic and contralateral sides were calculated by paired
t test. Spearmans rank
correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship
between 25-OHD and each variable. Probability values <0.05 were
considered statistically significant.
| Results |
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The results for the 216 patients who completed the
study are shown in
Table 1
. During the 2 years of study, a fall resulting in
hip fracture on the hemiplegic side occurred in 7 patients (5 women and
2 men) in the deficient group, while 1 male patient in the insufficient
group sustained hip fracture on the hemiplegic side
(P<0.05). In contrast, no hip
fractures occurred in the sufficient group. The hazard ratio for hip
fractures among patients in the deficient group compared with those in
the insufficient group was 6.5 (95% CI, 2.5 to 14.8). Numbers of hip
fractures per 1000 patient-years were 42.7 and 7.0 for the deficient
and insufficient groups, respectively.
Baseline Characteristics of Study Subjects
Characteristics of the patients are shown in
Table 2
. No differences were observed among the 3
patient groups in terms of sex, illness duration, or type of stroke.
The average age was significantly higher in the deficient group than in
the insufficient group. BI and hemiplegia score were significantly
lower in the deficient group than in the insufficient and sufficient
groups. Additionally, hip muscle strength on the nonhemiplegic side was
significantly lower in the deficient group than in the insufficient and
sufficient groups. Dietary intakes of vitamin D and sunlight exposure
were significantly lower in the deficient group than in the
insufficient and sufficient groups (data not
shown).
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Baseline Serum Biochemical Indices and Bone
Changes
Mean serum 25-OHD levels were 10 nmol/L (4.4 ng/mL) in
the deficient group, 36 nmol/L (14.5 ng/mL) in the insufficient group,
and 59 nmol/L (23.6 ng/mL) in the sufficient group. The mean serum
calcium concentration was significantly higher in the deficient and
insufficient groups than in the sufficient group
(Table 3
). The serum PTH concentration in the deficient
group was significantly higher than in the insufficient and sufficient
groups. No significant differences in serum concentration of BGP were
evident among the 3 groups. Mean serum concentrations of ICTP and
creatinine in the deficient group were significantly higher
than in the sufficient group.
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BMD on both sides was significantly lower in the deficient group than in the insufficient and sufficient groups. In addition, there was a significant difference between the insufficient and sufficient groups. As previously reported,3 BMD on the hemiplegic side was significantly lower than on the contralateral, nonhemiplegic side in all 3 groups.
Relationships Between 25-OHD and Clinical
Variables
Serum 25-OHD concentration correlated positively with
BI (r=0.535,
P<0.0001), muscle strength on
the intact side (r=0.517,
P<0.0001), and BMD on
hemiplegic (r=0.582,
P<0.0001) and contralateral
sides (r=0.499,
P<0.0001); serum 25-OHD
concentration correlated negatively with age
(r=-0.282,
P<0.0001).
When analyzed separately for the 2 stroke groups, serum PTH concentrations correlated negatively with serum concentrations of 25-OHD (r=-0.409, P=0.0002) and ionized calcium (r=-0.374, P=0.0007) and positively with ICTP (r=0.276, P=0.0125) in the deficient group, while these correlations were not observed in the insufficient group (data not shown). A negative correlation was seen between serum calcium concentration and illness duration only in the deficient group (r=-0.444, P<0.0001).
| Discussion |
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In the present study we found that disabled elderly
stroke patients with serum 25-OHD concentration
10 ng/mL had an
increased risk of hip fracture. The number of hip fractures was 7.1
times higher in the deficient group than the insufficient group. Hip
fracture incidence in the deficient group was 8.5%, and the fracture
rate was 42.7 per 1000 patient-years. In contrast, the fracture
incidence during 2 years in the insufficient group was 1.4%, with a
fracture rate of 7.0 per 1000 patient-years. Ramnemark et
al2 reported that the
fracture rate on either side per 1000 patient-years was 19.8 for stroke
patients aged 70 to 79 years and 47.3 for patients older than 80 years.
Although the mean age of the deficient group in the present study
was 74 years, the fracture rate was similar to that in subjects older
than 80 years in the aforementioned
study.2 In a group aged 69
years or younger, the fracture rate was reported to be
5.7,2 which is similar to the
fracture rate in our insufficient group with mean age of 68 years. The
high incidence of hip fracture in the deficient group may be
attributable to osteopenia due to severe 25-OHD deficiency caused by
immobilization and compensatory hyperparathyroidism. Additionally,
vitamin Ddeficient (osteomalacic) myopathy may have contributed to a
high incidence of hip fractures in the severe vitamin D deficiency
group by causing gait instability leading to frequent
falls.
In the present study we found that immobilization was more severe in the deficient group. Dietary intake of vitamin D was significantly lower in the deficient group than in the insufficient and sufficient groups. The deficient group also had lower sunlight exposure, which may be due to a high degree of immobilization. These factors may have resulted in severely deficient 25-OHD concentrations.
At baseline, serum 25-OHD concentration was at an
osteomalacic level (
5 ng/mL) in many patients in the deficient group.
However, histological proof of osteomalacia was not
sought in these patients.31
There were significant differences among the 3 groups in metacarpal
BMD: the lowest in the deficient group and the highest in the
sufficient group. Age, BI, muscle strength on the nonhemiplegic side,
and BMD on both sides correlated with 25-OHD.
In isolated vitamin D deficiency, serum ionized calcium concentration is chronically low, and this leads to the feedback stimulation of the parathyroid glands to cause secondary hyperparathyroidism. However, serum ionized calcium levels in the insufficient group were increased, which may imply the presence of immobilization-related hypercalcemia. Despite hypovitaminosis D, serum PTH was also normal in this group. Thus, hypercalcemia in the insufficient group may inhibit compensatory PTH secretion that otherwise would occur in response to hypovitaminosis D. These findings were virtually similar to our previous studies on the vitamin D state and calcium metabolism in disabled stroke patients.23 24 32 On the other hand, we found increased serum calcium and PTH levels in the deficient group of the present study. This may imply that compensatory hyperparathyroidism does occur in this group and explains the negative correlation between 25-OHD and PTH found only in the deficient group. The parathyroid response to hypovitaminosis D overrides the effect of immobilization-induced hypercalcemia when serum 25-OHD levels are in the osteomalacic range. Hyperparathyroidism may result in increased bone resorption, as evidenced by a positive correlation between PTH and ICTP.
It is noteworthy that many stroke patients with 25-OHD deficiency suffered a hip fracture. A previous study found that daily nutritional supplementation with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 800 IU) and calcium (1200 mg) reduced hip fracture by 43% in postmenopausal women compared with placebo controls.33 Investigation is required to determine whether the incidence of hip fracture can be reduced by use of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) and calcium supplementation in poststroke patients with 25-OHD deficiency.
We conclude that disabled stroke patients 65 years and older whose serum 25-OHD concentrations are <10 ng/mL are at increased risk for hip fracture. Immobilization and advanced age may cause 25-OHD deficiency with compensatory hyperparathyroidism, leading to reduced BMD, which in turn is responsible for the increased risk of fracture.
Received December 8, 2000; revision received February 23, 2001; accepted March 1, 2001.
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