Vitamin D deficiency is a problem for adult out-patients? A university hospital sample in Istanbul, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in relation to demographics, clinical diagnosis, season of measurement and laboratory parameters in adult out-patients.

DESIGN

Descriptive, retrospective study concerning evaluation of the initial 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels determined at admission in relation to demographics, clinical diagnosis, season of measurement and laboratory parameters. 25(OH)D levels ,20 ng/ml were classified as deficiency, 20–30 ng/ml as insufficiency and .30 ng/ml as sufficiency.

SETTING

Out-patient clinics at a tertiary care centre.

SUBJECTS

A total of 2488 adult patients (mean age: 53?3 (SD 15?2) years; 85?2% were females) admitted to out-patient clinics at Baskent University Istanbul Hospital were included.

RESULTS

Mean level of 25(OH)D in the overall population was 17?4 (SD 11?5) ng/ml while insufficiency and deficiency were evident in 24% and 66% of patients, respectively. Mean 25(OH)D levels in males .45 years old were higher than in their female counterparts (19?4 (SD 11?3) ng/ml v. 17?8 (SD 12?2) ng/ml; P,0?05). Mean 25(OH)D levels obtained in summer (18?6 (SD 11?1) ng/ml) and autumn (23?3 (SD 13?6) ng/ml) were significantly higher than levels in spring (16?1 (SD 10?3) ng/ml) and winter (14?6 (SD 10?2) ng/ml; P,0?01). Mean 25(OH)D levels were determined to be significantly lower in obese patients compared with non-obese patients (15?6 (SD 10?4) ng/ml v. 17?6 (SD 11?6) ng/ml; P,0?05). Levels of 25(OH)D were significantly negatively correlated with serum parathyroid hormone levels (r520?194; P,0?001) while significantly positively correlated with phosphorus (r50?059; P,0?01) and HDL cholesterol (r50?070; P,0?01) levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that vitamin D deficiency is very common among out-patients in Turkey, regardless of gender and age, especially among obese people and during winter and spring.