Vitamin D and Calcium cost-effectively reduce falls and fractures

Created May 2019

Cost-benefit analysis of calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Arch Osteoporos. 2019 Apr 30;14(1):50. doi: 10.1007/s11657-019-0589-y.

Weaver CM1, Bischoff-Ferrari HA2,3,4, Shanahan CJ5.

It correctly assumes a 14% reduction in hospital costs due to reduced fractures It fails to consider the considerable non-hospital cost-savings of fractures e.g. Rehab, Physical therapy, lost job, nursing homes, in-home care, etc. It fails to consider the cost-savings of reduced falls (without fractures) It fails to consider the considerable cost savings of increased Vitamin D resulting in reduced health problems --- 1. See also VitaminDWiki * * Falls and Fractures category listing has items along with related searches * Cost Savings with Vitamin D category listing has items along with related searches * Overview Fractures and Falls and Vitamin D * Overview Fractures and vitamin D * Vitamin D may prevent falls and fractures without Calcium – an overview of 9 meta-analysis – Oct 2012 It is not at all clear that the Calcium is actually needed** * Hip fracture 58 percent more likely if low vitamin D – meta-analysis March 2017 * 1 in 3 died after hip fracture but only 1 in 14 if add Vitamin D and exercise – RCT April 2017 * Vitamin D compliance 3X higher when children with fractures actually knew their low vitamin D level – March 2019 * Elderly probably more likely to take their supplements when they know their Vitamin D Levels are low * Following hip fracture 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily improved quality of life – Feb 2019 * 400 IU of vitamin D does not prevent fractures – US Preventive Services – April 2018 * Fractures not reduced by small amounts of vitamin D - meta-analysis Dec 2017 * Nope, need at least 2,000 IU --- Items in both categories Falls & Fractures and Cost-Savings: {category} --- Items in both categories Mortality and Cost-Savings: {category}

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$6 hospital cost saved for every $1 of cost for Calcium and Vitamin D

If all adults with osteoporosis in the European Union (EU) and United States (US) used calcium and vitamin D supplements, it could prevent more than 500,000 fractures/year in the EU and more than 300,000/year in the US and save approximately €5.7 billion and US $3.3 billion annually.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of calcium/vitamin D supplementation for preventing osteoporotic fractures.

METHODS:

A cost-benefit analysis tool was used to estimate the net cost savings from reduced fracture-related hospital expenses if adults with osteoporosis in the EU and US used calcium/vitamin D supplements. A 14% relative risk reduction of fracture with calcium/vitamin D supplementation from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials was used as the basis for the benefit estimate. Other model inputs were informed by epidemiologic, clinical, and cost data (2016-2017) obtained via the medical literature or public databases. Analyses estimated the total number of avoided fractures and associated cost savings with supplement use. Net cost benefit was calculated by subtracting the supplements' market costs from those savings.

RESULTS:

The > 30 million persons in the EU and nearly 11 million in US with osteoporosis experience about 3.9 million and 2.3 million fractures/year and have annual hospital costs exceeding €50 billion and $28 billion. If all persons with osteoporosis used calcium and vitamin D supplements, there would be an estimated 544,687 fewer fractures/year in the EU and 323,566 fewer in the US, saving over €6.9 billion and $3.9 billion; the net cost benefit would be €5,710,277,330 and $3,312,236,252, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Calcium and vitamin D supplements are highly cost-effective, and expanded use could considerably reduce fractures and related costs. Although these analyses included individuals aged ≥ 50 years, the observed effects are likely driven by benefits observed in those aged ≥ 65 years.

Tags: Cost savings Falls and Fractures