Risk Factors for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in a Nursing Home Population

Objective: Secondary hyperparathyroidism may cause bone loss and structural deterioration of bone and may thus be a cause of fracture in the elderly. Vitamin D deficiency, renal impairment and medications are potential causes of hyperparathyroidism and may also directly predispose to fracture. We present the first findings of an ongoing study of hip fracture, vitamin D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism in a large Australian nursing home.

Design: Descriptive prevalence study.

Patients: Two hundred and fifty-one nursing home residents were eligible for inclusion. Informed consent and successful venepuncture were obtained for 99. Residents were of median age 83 years with interquartile range (IR) 77-89 years.

Measurements: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), creatinine and biochemistry, demographic data and current medications.

Results: Fifty-two per cent of 99 subjects had 25OHD below the reference range of 28-165 nmol/l and 96.5% were below the reference range mean. Those with low 25OHD had lower plasma calcium corrected for albumin than those with normal 25OHD (medians 2.34 vs 2.41 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval for the difference between medians (CI) -0.10 to -0.04 mmol/l, P = 0.0001) and higher PTH (medians 5.8 vs 3.9 pmol/l, CI 0.10-2.6 pmol/l, P = 0.0360). Twenty-eight per cent of 97 residents had PTH above the upper reference range limit of 6.5 pmol/l. Residents receiving frusemide had higher PTH than other residents (medians 6.95 vs 3.45 pmol/l, CI 1.9-4.2 pmol/l, P < 0.0001). In linear modelling, the most important predictor of the natural logarithm of PTH was daily frusemide dose, adjusted R2 (Ra2) = 31.8%, F = 39.3, P < 0.001. Creatinine and the reciprocal of 25OHD were other significant predictors with the final Ra2 = 39.4%, F = 17.7, P < 0.001.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is a common risk factor for secondary hyperparathyroidism in nursing home residents despite a climate in which vitamin D nutrition is thought to be ample. However, the daily frusemide dose is a more important predictor of PTH in this population.