It is estimated that around a third (30 per cent) of over 65 year olds living in the community will suffer a fall every year rising to 60 per cent for those living in care homes.[2] [3] [4]
The findings of the research are particularly important since one in two women and one in five men will suffer a fracture after the age of 50,[5] which can not only be painful but may be fatal in some osteoporosis patients. In fact, the lifetime risk of a fracture in women aged over 50 in the UK is greater than the risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease.[6]
In the UK, there are an estimated 60,000 hip, 50,000 wrist and 120,000 vertebral fractures every year as a result of osteoporosis.[5] [7] [9] Looking at hip fractures alone, a quarter of these cases are fatal.
Boots Healthcare Technical Expert, Gavin Stainton, advises: “During the winter months it is important to get all the nutrients you need to help your body function at its best, which can be especially important for elderly people who may have a less efficient immune system. Vitamin D is essential in helping the body to absorb calcium and maintain strong, healthy bones. However, unlike other vitamins, it is difficult to obtain sufficient levels of vitamin D from our diet alone and the majority is manufactured under the skin in reaction to sunlight exposure. As winter approaches, weather conditions can leave us vulnerable to low vitamin D levels which supplementation can help with.”
[1] Cameron ID et al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people in nursing care facilities and hospitals. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. January 2010, Issue 1.
[2] Tinetti ME, Speechley M and Ginter SF. (1988) Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med 319: 1701-1707.
[3] Hedlund R and Lindgren U., (1987) Trauma type, age, and gender as determinants of hip fracture. J Orthop Res 5: 242-246.
[4] Grisso JA, Kelsey JL, Strom BL, Chiu GY, Maislin G, Obrien LA, Hoffman S and Kaplan F., (1991) Risk Factors for Falls As a Cause of Hip Fracture in Women. N Engl J Med 324: 1326-1331.
[5] van Staa TP, Dennison EM, Leufkens HG and Cooper C., (2001) Epidemiology of fractures in England and Wales. Bone 29: 517-522.
[6] WHO Study Group (1994). Assessment of fracture risk and its application to screening for post menopausal osteoporosis. 843: 1-129. WHO Technical Report Series
[7] Keene GS, Parker MJ and Pryor GA., (1993) Mortality and morbidity after hip fractures. BMJ 307: 1248-1250.
[8] Felsenberg et al. (2002) Incidence of vertebral fracture in europe: results from the European Prospective Osteoporosis Study (EPOS). J Bone Miner Res 17: 716-724.
[9] Ostan et al. (2008) Immunosenescence and immunogenetics of human longevity. Neuroimmunomodulation. 15(4-6):224-40.
