Prevalence of vitamin d deficiency in orthopedic practice-a study in Karachi

ABSTRACT

To study the prevalence of vit D deficiency in Karachi by evaluating the levels of vit D in patients reporting to an orthopaedic out patients department[OPD] with complaints of persistent backache or generalized aches and pains. Cross sectional descriptive study. From Aug 2008 to May 2009 in orthopaedic OPD of Pakistan Steel Mills Hospital Karachi. A non probability convenience sample was taken from 334 patients referred to orthopaedic specialist by primary care physicians for persistent backache and or generalized aches and pains, minimum for the last 6 months. A total 89 patients were included keeping in view the exclusion criteria. X-ray lumbosacral spine, and serum Vitamin D levels were advised in all cases. The normal range is 40-100ng/ml. Value of 20-39ng/ml was taken as mild deficiency,5-19 ng/ml was considered as moderate and <5ng/ml was noted as severe deficiency. There were 73 [82%] females and 16[18%] males. Mean Vitamin D3 level estimated in the study population was 7.76 ng/ml [SD= 3.50]. Mean age was 40.2 years +/- 10.75. Serum Vitamin D3 levels were checked and found to be moderately low in 75% of cases checked. Vitamin D deficiency constitutes a common reason of morbidity in Pakistan and deserves to be considered in the common differential diagnosis of backache and unexplained aches and pains.