Vitamin D is associated with a low quality of life: a primary care study

Introduction: Some studies have described impairment in quality of life of vitamin-deficient subjects. However, little is known about this association in primary care. This study aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and quality of life in postmenopausal women attending primary care in the municipality of Santa Maria ­ Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with postmenopausal women over 55 years of age, accompanied in primary care, from March to August 2014. These women were randomly selected among the participants of a cohort study in the municipality of Santa Maria ­ Brazil. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire, quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured using the ALPCO® ELISA method. Results: Of the total of 78 studied women, 11.54% had vitamin D deficiency. Women with vitamin D deficiency had a poorer quality of life assessed by SF-36. In the regression analysis, both vitamin D deficiency and falls were independently associated with a lower physical component of the SF-36. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poorer quality of life in the studied postmenopausal women.

Low self-awareness of osteoporosis and fracture risk among postmenopausal women.

UNLABELLED: Postmenopausal women with a high risk of fractures may not perceive their risk. This study showed no concordance between the perceived and calculated risk of fracture. Almost 80 % of the women identified as a high risk of fracture by the FRAX algorithm tool perceived themselves to have little risk. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the concordance between self-perception of osteoporosis and fracture risk and the 10-year risk of fractures calculated by the FRAX algorithm. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, between March 1 and August 31, 2013. Postmenopausal women over 55 years of age who have had at least one appointment at primary care in the 2 years prior to the enrolment were recruited. We excluded women with cognitive impairment. A standardized questionnaire regarding the perception of personal risk of osteoporosis and fractures was used. We also evaluated previous fractures, family history of fracture, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of glucocorticoids, and secondary causes of osteoporosis. Weight and height of the participants were measured. The risk of fractures of each participant was calculated using the FRAX algorithm (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool). RESULTS: Of the 1301 invited women, 1057 completed the survey. The average (mean [SD]) age and BMI were 67.2 (7.6) years and 29.3 (5.5) kg/m(2), respectively. Only 16.9 and 19.9 % participants believed themselves to be at a high risk of osteoporosis and fractures, respectively. There was no agreement between the perceived risk of fractures and the calculated FRAX risk of fractures. Moreover, almost 79.3 % of the women identified with a high risk of fractures by the FRAX algorithm perceived themselves as having little risk. CONCLUSION: These results show that postmenopausal women underestimate their risk of osteoporotic fractures when compared with their 10-year fracture risk according to FRAX algorithm.