After Stroke, Low Vitamin D Tracks With More Falls
Graded Moderate — one hospital followed 802 older stroke patients for a year; as an observation at a single site, missing data such as prior falls, it cannot show cause.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 802
- Duration
- 12 months
- Funding
- —
Older people with low vitamin D in their blood fell more often after a stroke linked to atrial fibrillation.
A stroke can set older people back badly. Those who also have atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, are especially prone to lasting disability, low mood and falls. In a study from China, stroke patients with little vitamin D in their blood recovered less well. They also fell more often over the following year.
Researchers at one hospital followed 802 people aged 65 or older after a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel. Vitamin D was measured within 48 hours of admission. Just over 60 percent had low levels. This group had a 29 percent higher risk of a first fall during the next twelve months. At three months, they managed daily tasks less well on their own and more often had marked depressive symptoms. Falls were common overall: 327 of 742 people tracked fell at least once, more than two in five.
No one in the study was given vitamin D. So the results cannot show whether raising vitamin D improves recovery or prevents falls, a point the authors stress themselves. Key details such as earlier falls, balance or memory were not recorded in a standard way and could partly explain the link. The researchers see the blood test mainly as a simple way to spot who is at risk.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.