Seasonality of hip fracture and vitamin D deficiency persists in a sub‐tropical climate.

Both hip fractures and vitamin D (25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD)) deficiency are more common in winter in regions with temperate climates, but few data exist for a sub‐tropical climate. In a South East Queensland tertiary hospital over a 7‐year period, there were significantly more hip fractures in winter than the other three seasons (analysis of variance P = 0.003), with associated higher frequency of 25‐OHD deficiency – 42.5% in winter compared to 28.5% in summer, odds ratio 1.86 (95% confidence interval 1.35–2.56), P = 0.0001. Seasonality of hip fracture and 25‐OHD deficiency occurs even in a sub‐tropical climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]