Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.
Palliative Care Center, Kuwait, Ministry of Health, Al Sabah Medical Area, P.O. Box 5, Kuwait City 13001, Kuwait.
Nutrients. 2022 Aug 15;14(16):3342. doi: 10.3390/nu14163342.
Low vitamin D levels among older people represent a significant health problem worldwide. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in older people (aged ≥ 65) in the Kuwaiti population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven primary healthcare centers across Kuwait (November 2020 to June 2021). The participants (n = 237) had their serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (analyzed using LC-MS) classified as sufficiency 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL) or deficiency < 75 nmol/L (below 30 ng/mL). The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with participants in geriatric clinics. Binomial logistic regression analysis was applied to assess factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was found to be present in two thirds of the participants (n = 150, 63%), with a higher prevalence of deficiency in participants who did not receive vitamin D supplements, compared to those who did (84% vs. 16%, p = 0.001). The results from the binary logistic regression showed that a low duration of sun exposure (OR = 0.24, 95% C.I. [0.08−0.7], p = 0.011), dark skin pigmentation (OR = 4.46, 95% [1.35−20.49], p = 0.026), and lower caloric intake (OR = 0.9, 95% C.I. [0.85−0.96], p = 0.001) were risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Furthermore, a significant inverse relationship was found between vitamin D levels and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (OR = 1.16, 95% C.I. [1.04−1.31], p = 0.016). These findings support the recommendation that vitamin D supplementation and adequate sunlight exposure are necessary for raising low vitamin D levels in older people in Kuwait.
老年人维生素 D 水平低是一个全球性的重大健康问题。本研究旨在探讨科威特老年人（年龄≥65 岁）维生素 D 缺乏的相关因素。这是一项横断面研究，在科威特的 7 个初级保健中心进行（2020 年 11 月至 2021 年 6 月）。研究对象（n=237）的血清维生素 D（25(OH)D）浓度（使用 LC-MS 分析）分为充足（≥75 nmol/L，30ng/mL）或缺乏（<75 nmol/L，<30ng/mL）。数据通过老年人诊所的自我管理问卷和面对面访谈收集。采用二项逻辑回归分析评估与维生素 D 缺乏相关的因素。结果发现，三分之二的参与者（n=150，63%）存在维生素 D 缺乏，与服用维生素 D 补充剂的参与者相比，未服用者的缺乏率更高（84%比 16%，p=0.001）。二项逻辑回归结果显示，暴露在阳光下的时间较短（OR=0.24，95%置信区间 [0.08-0.7]，p=0.011）、肤色较深（OR=4.46，95%置信区间 [1.35-20.49]，p=0.026）和热量摄入较低（OR=0.9，95%置信区间 [0.85-0.96]，p=0.001）是维生素 D 缺乏的危险因素。此外，维生素 D 水平与甲状旁腺激素（PTH）水平呈显著负相关（OR=1.16，95%置信区间 [1.04-1.31]，p=0.016）。这些发现支持了这样的建议，即补充维生素 D 和充足的阳光暴露对于提高科威特老年人的维生素 D 水平是必要的。
