journal articles
LOW RATES OF VITAMIN D SCREENING: CONCERN FOR AGING WITH POOR SKELETAL HEALTH IN THE OLDER MINORITIES
N.J. Rianon, K.P. Murphy, C.B. Dyer, B.J. Selwyn
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2016;5(1):38-42
Background: Regardless of discussion about vitamin D deficiency in minority population, there is a scarcity of information on vitamin D screening practice in older minority patients by their PCPs. Screening for risk factors does improve diagnosis and treatment of compromised skeletal health. Objective: To compare vitamin D screening rates between older patients from Caucasian and other non-Caucasian backgrounds including Blacks and Hispanics who were being treated by their PCPs for osteopenia, osteoporosis or related fractures. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Setting: Electronic medical chart review from two urban primary care clinics (family medicine and geriatrics, Houston, TX) between January 2010 and December 2011. Participants: 133 patients 50 years or older who visited primary care clinics for osteopenia, osteoporosis or related fractures. Measurements: an order for 25-hydroxy vitamin D a year before or after an osteoporosis related visit. Results: Regardless of the clinic type, higher percentages of minority patients were not screened for vitamin D. While patients with older age from both groups were more likely to be screened, no single patient characteristic remained significant after adding clinic type to the logistic models. Conclusions: Lower rates of vitamin D screening put older minority patients at higher risk of aging with worsening skeletal health. Perspective and knowledge about vitamin D screening by PCP is recommended for future research to improve vitamin D screening and treatment in minority elderly.
CITATION:
N.J. Rianon ; K.P. Murphy ; C.B. Dyer ; B.J. Selwyn (2016): Low rates of vitamin D screening: concern for aging with poor skeletal health in the older minorities. The Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice (JARCP). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jarcp.2016.81