The FREEDOM Study: A RCT Of Sunlight And Calcium To Reduce Vitamin D Deficiency In Older People In Residential Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,972.00
Summary
The proposed study emanates from a large ongoing epidemiological study on falls and fractures in the elderly (the FREE study). Falls and fractures are major problems in the elderly. This is the genesis for the FREEDOM (Falls Risk Epidemiology: Effect of vitamin D on skeletal Outcomes and other Measures) intervention study. The FREEDOM study will evaluate the effect of a public health strategy to reduce falls and fractures in older people living in residential care (namely appropriate sun light e ....The proposed study emanates from a large ongoing epidemiological study on falls and fractures in the elderly (the FREE study). Falls and fractures are major problems in the elderly. This is the genesis for the FREEDOM (Falls Risk Epidemiology: Effect of vitamin D on skeletal Outcomes and other Measures) intervention study. The FREEDOM study will evaluate the effect of a public health strategy to reduce falls and fractures in older people living in residential care (namely appropriate sun light exposure and calcium supplementation) in a randomised trial. The primary endpoints of this study will be reduction in falls and change in vitamin D levels. Other endpoints will be change in motor function, mood, bone turnover and fracture incidence. The proposed public health strategy to be examined is readily transferable to routine practice and would have very good feasibility for easy implementation and are generally applicable to the residential care setting, where the study will be conducted. Moreover the proposed approach would be low in cost and does not depend on other health system input. Potentially large numbers of people would benefit from the better understanding of simple methods of securing improved vitamin D status.Read moreRead less
Reducing Risk Factors For Falls And Fracture In Obese Older Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Australia’s obese older population is growing, and a large number of fractures now occur in obese older adults. This research program aims to reduce falls and fracture risk in obese older adults through innovative exercise programs which target improvements in bone and muscle health, and a wearable device that enables measurement of this type of exercise. The findings will contribute to exercise guidelines which are urgently needed to reduce the costly impact of falls and fracture in Australia.
Extension Of The Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$272,025.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, is studying how to prevent osteoporosis in elderly women. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. During 1998, 1,500 women were recruited to study wheth ....Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, is studying how to prevent osteoporosis in elderly women. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. During 1998, 1,500 women were recruited to study whether a daily calcium supplement for 5 years helps to prevent fractures compared to a diet without a supplement. To do this only half of the women were given calcium supplements and the other half were given matched placebo tablets. Each year the study participants are reviewed and asked whether or not they have broken any bones and have other measurements to monitor their bone health and overall health. The subjects are entering their last year of treatment and will finish the study during 2003. At this appointment all subjects will undergo the same series of measurements that they had at the beginning of the study to determine whether or not they have fractured any bones, improved their bone mass and overall health during the treatment stage. The main outcome of the study is to determine whether calcium is useful as a supplement to prevent osteoporotic fracture in elderly women. If this study finds that fewer women fractured in the calcium treated group compared to the non treated group, given that both groups were similar to begin with, we can say that supplementation with calcium prevents fractures. Thus, public health messages about preventing osteoporosis will be able to direct the community to take supplements to prevent a disease that creates pain and disability in later life. The advantage of this study is that it is studying other aspects of these women health, so we can determine whether the calcium is safe to use and improves people's quality of life.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Psychosocial And Socioeconomic Predictors Of Osteoporosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is ranked the 7th national health priority, in recognition of the enormous impact on quality of life and greater risk of mortality following osteoporotic fracture. With few exceptions, socially disadvantaged individuals tend to have poorer health outcomes. However, little is known of psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants of osteoporosis, and barriers to preventive healthcare. This project will inform future health promotion messages targeted toward those most at risk.
Environmental And Metabolic Influences On Musculoskeletal And Other Diseases In A Cohort Of Elderly Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$840,575.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, has been monitoring a cohort of elderly women for since 1998. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. 1,500 women were recruited to study whether a dail ....Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease yet 1 in 10 Australians have osteoporosis. Every year >64,000 osteoporotic fractures occur, which is one every 8.1 minutes and women are three times as likely to have the disease than men. The Bone and Calcium Research Group at the University of Western Australia, has been monitoring a cohort of elderly women for since 1998. This study is called the Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study or CAIFOS. 1,500 women were recruited to study whether a daily calcium supplement for 5 years helps to prevent fractures compared to a diet without a supplement. Each year the study participants are reviewed and asked whether or not they have broken any bones and have other measurements to monitor their bone and cardiovascular health and cognitive function. The subjects will end the treatment phase in 2003 and they will find out the results of the study. More than 93% are interested in being followed for a further 5 years, where they will be contacted every 6 months and asked questions about their general health including information on fracture, hospital visits and changes in medication use. The subjects will have a clinic visits at 2 and 5 years post treatment. With the ongoing collection of adverse event data and metabolic and environmental data from the first phase of the study, we will be able to examine the metabolic and environmental factors that influence musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and mental health. This is important to determine how we can prevent disease to maintain the quality of life and independence in the elderly, a growing segment of the population.Read moreRead less