RESUMO
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a growing problem worldwide and it is associated with a variety of diseases
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in a sun-rich country
Setting: Al Kindi Hospital, Bahrain. Design: A Retrospective Study
Method: Three hundred two patients were included in the study from 1 June 2009 to 28 February 2012
The study included determination of the prevalence and severity of vitamin D and its correlation with age and gender. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software
Result: Three hundred two patients were included in the study. Two hundred six [68.2%] females had 25[OH] D deficiency compared to 26 [8.6%] males. There was a statistically significant difference concerning gender [P-value= 0.014]. One hundred forty-two [48%] patients below 50 years had 25(OH) D deficiency compared to 90 (29.8%) patients above 50 years, P-value= 0.012. Pearson's correlation coefficient suggests a positive correlation as age increases [Pearson's r[2] = 0.180]
Conclusion: Low vitamin D is a growing health problem in Bahrain. Bahraini females had a significantly higher rate of vitamin D deficiency compared to males. We recommend earlier screening in women and young children. People who are at risk should be advised to increase their dietary calcium intake and vitamin D supplementation
RESUMO
We report here an analysis of results of anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG] measurements reported from the Central Laboratory of Bahrain over a period of 3 years and 9 months. This study included all blood samples received at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain serology laboratory for the determination of Toxoplasma-specific antibodies during the period of January 2000 to September 2003. A total of 4,739 specimens were assayed for IgG and 1,947 for IgM. An overall seropositivity of 21.8% for IgG and 10.3% for IgM antibodies were found with no gender differences for either IgG or IgM. In addition, no statistically significant positivity rate differences [p=0.723] were observed between Bahrainis and non-Bahraini residents. The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii [T. gondii]-specific IgG amongst post partum women was 15.8% and 6.3% for IgM, while for women of child-bearing age IgG was higher at 22.3% and 11.6% for IgM. The IgG seropositivity in neonates [<1 month old] was 16.5%, decreasing to 9.3% in preschool children, while for IgM, it was 3.7% at birth increasing to 7.3% in the preschool group. The IgG seroprevalence increased within the first 15 years of life, and leveled thereafter, for IgM however, it was low at birth and increased within the first 12 months of life then leveled-off at the age of 20-40 to approximately 11-14%, with a further increase after 40 years to 17%. The seropositivity rates of T. gondii in the samples examined during the present study fall within the range of other Gulf Cooperative Council countries. True prevalence in the general population may actually be lower