New Vit D guidelines help osteoporosis
The National Osteoporosis Society has published Vitamin D and Bone Health: A Practical Clinical Guideline for Patient Management (LINK), the UK’s first clinical guideline for health professionals identifying and treating vitamin D deficiency
The Guideline, which has been developed by a group of clinicians and scientists with expertise in vitamin D and osteoporosis, describes who should be tested for vitamin D deficiency, how the results should be interpreted and how deficiency should be treated. For the first time, UK healthcare professionals now have balanced, expert advice on the management of patients with vitamin D deficiency, which has previously been relatively neglected and inconsistent around the UK
People worried about their vitamin D levels will be able to talk to their doctor about whether they actually need a test; for those who do, the Guideline provides clarity about when vitamin D measurements should be performed, how the results should be interpreted and how vitamin D deficiency should be treated. It provides a uniform approach to what should be considered as deficiency and should improve bone health in patients with vitamin D deficiency and reduce the risk of falls and fractures
Professor Roger Francis, Chair of the Guideline’s Authoring Group and Honorary Medical Director of the National Osteoporosis Society explains:
“Pressure was mounting from clinicians to have guidance that covers the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. This, coupled with growing public awareness and interest in vitamin D, encouraged us to provide guidance for healthcare professionals across the UK. The National Osteoporosis Society is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and fragility fractures, so it was appropriate that this guideline concentrates on bone health, falls and fractures
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK, particularly in older people. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development of osteoporosis and to falls and fractures
The Guideline has been endorsed by a wide range of other health organisations including Bone Research Society, British Geriatrics Society, British Orthopaedic Association, International Osteoporosis Foundation, Primary Care Rheumatology Society, Royal College of Nursing, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Society for Endocrinology, British Dietetic Association, UK Clinical Pharmacy Association, Paget’s Association, Arthritis Research UK and the Royal Society of Medicine
