Vitamin D Deficiency and Health Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults Attending a Tertiary Care Centre
Vitamin D Deficiency and Health Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults Attending a Tertiary Care Centre
Author(s):Dr Prativa Patra
Received: 2020-07-10
Accepted: 2020-08-04
Published: 2020-08-28
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide and has been linked, largely through observational data, to a broad range of skeletal and non-skeletal health outcomes. The clinical significance of these associations remains debated because major randomised trials have not confirmed benefit from supplementation in unselected populations.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults attending a tertiary care centre and to examine its cross-sectional association with musculoskeletal, cardiometabolic, infective, and neuropsychiatric outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,240 adults aged ≥40 years over a 12-month period. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured and categorised as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29.9 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Outcomes were ascertained from clinical records and validated instruments. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, and season.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 38.2% of participants and insufficiency in a further 33.5%. Deficiency was more frequent among women, older adults, those with obesity, and during winter/spring. After adjustment, deficiency was independently associated with low bone mineral density (aOR 2.14), falls (aOR 1.76), type 2 diabetes (aOR 1.68), recurrent respiratory infection (aOR 1.59), and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.48).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in this cohort. Because the design is cross-sectional, these findings indicate association rather than causation and should be interpreted alongside trial evidence when guiding supplementation.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adults attending a tertiary care centre and to examine its cross-sectional association with musculoskeletal, cardiometabolic, infective, and neuropsychiatric outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,240 adults aged ≥40 years over a 12-month period. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured and categorised as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29.9 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Outcomes were ascertained from clinical records and validated instruments. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, and season.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 38.2% of participants and insufficiency in a further 33.5%. Deficiency was more frequent among women, older adults, those with obesity, and during winter/spring. After adjustment, deficiency was independently associated with low bone mineral density (aOR 2.14), falls (aOR 1.76), type 2 diabetes (aOR 1.68), recurrent respiratory infection (aOR 1.59), and depressive symptoms (aOR 1.48).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in this cohort. Because the design is cross-sectional, these findings indicate association rather than causation and should be interpreted alongside trial evidence when guiding supplementation.
Keywords: vitamin D deficiency; 25-hydroxyvitamin D; bone health; cross-sectional study; health outcomes
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