Abstract

Serum levels of vitamin D in women treated at rheumatology services in Lima

Author(s): Luis Fernando Vidal Neira, Rasec Morales Olazabal, Kori Cueva Tovar, Nathaly Pasapera Alban, Maritza Vidal Wilman & Jose Luis Rojas Vilca

The objective of this study was to determine the vitamin D status in women ≥50 years of age who were treated at rheumatology services in Lima, Peru, and determine the proportion of patients who require correction of vitamin D deficiency. A total of 157 women were evaluated; 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D], intact Parathyroid Hormone (PTH), calcium and serum phosphorus were measured. The mean age was 63.3 ± 8.6 years, and most were diagnosed with fibromyalgia (50%) and osteoarthritis (30.57%). The mean [25(OH) D] value was 18.7 ± 6.7 ng/mL, and no differences in calcium, phosphorus, [25(OH) D] and PTH values were found between the subgroups stratified by age. No correlation was found between age and [25(OH) D] (r =0.099; p=0.212). We found a weak direct correlation between age and PTH (r=0.183; p<0.05) and a weak inverse correlation between [25(OH) D] and PTH values (r= -0.179; p<0.05). We found [25(OH) D] values<20, between 20-30 and ≥30 ng/mL in 58.6%, 36.9% and 4.5% of patients, respectively. The average [25(OH) D] values were lower in obese patients than in non-obese patients (16.94 vs. 19.42 ng/mL; p<0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was prominent in rheumatic patients, and in approximately 60%, we found vitamin D values <20 ng/mL, which require correction. Identifying and treating vitamin D deficiency is recommended because of the impact on different health parameters in these patients.