The frequency of vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease and its relation with baseline mineral bone markers

To assess the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease and its association with baseline mineral bone markers in patients visiting nephrology clinics.

The observational study was conducted at the Indus Hospital, Karachi, from January 2017 to January 2018, and comprised patients of either gender aged >16 years diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage I-V. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of severity of vitamin D deficiency. Severe vitamin D deficiency was defined as <10ng/ml, and moderate deficiency ad 10- 25ng/ml. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.

Of the 267 patients, 146(54.7%) were males and 189(70.8%) had vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D-deficient patients were younger than those with normal levels (p=0.044). Serum creatinine was raised in the deficient patients compared to those with normal vitamin D level (p=0.042). Females and currently employed patients were at a higher risk of having vitamin D deficiency (p=0.048, 0.009). There was no si gn ific ant as s ociation between disease stage a nd vitamin D defic ienc y ( p= 0.311).

Vitamin D deficiency was found in a significant proportion of chronic kidney disease patients irrespective of the disease stage. Females, currently employed and young patients were more prone to having vitamin D deficiency.