Frequency of severe vitamin-D deficiency in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency of severe vitamin D deficiency in patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad and its possible causes.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study involving 351 consecutive patients was conducted at the out-patient department of General Medicine, Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad, from September 2011 to June 2012.Both male and female patients between the ages of 13 and 65 were included in the study, while those having renal or liver failure and using drugs that could potentially cause a decrease in vitamin D3 were excluded. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 351 subjects, 221 (62.9%) were females and 123 (37.1%) were male. The overall mean age was 46.03 ± 16.18 years. There were 251 (71.5) subjects from Islamabad, followed by 51 (14.6%) from Peshawar, 26 (7.3%) from Rawalpindi, 7(2%) from Abbottabad while 16 (4.6%)were from other parts of Pakistan. Overall, 225 (64%) were aware of the importance of vitamin D, whereas 126 (36%) were not; 246 (70%) knew about the role of vitamin D in normal bone development, and 105 (30%) did not know; 344 (98%) didn't know what was meant by fortified food containing vitamin D, while 168 (48%)experienced generalised body aches and pains and none of the patients had a fracture in the preceding one year. Vitamin D3 levels were decreased in 291 (82.8%) subjects and the mean vitamin D3 level was 14.09 ± 12.93 ng/dL.

CONCLUSION

Undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the community. With the magnitude of deficiency that is seen in our healthy population, fortification of food items is required.