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Vitamin D deficiency in a pediatric population with sickle cell disease

Thiago de Souza Vilela1,2, Mauro Fisberg2,3, Gerson Ferrari4,5

  • 1Department of Pediatrics - Division of Pediatric Hematology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
|January 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D deficiency is common in children with sickle cell disease, affecting nearly half of those studied. Risk factors include younger age, less sun exposure, and testing during autumn or winter.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder associated with numerous complications.
  • Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a significant health issue in pediatric populations.
  • Hypovitaminosis D in pediatric SCD patients may exacerbate clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pediatric patients with SCD.
  • To identify potential risk factors associated with hypovitaminosis D in this cohort.
  • To investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and clinical parameters in children with SCD.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 pediatric patients (aged 3-18 years) diagnosed with SCD.
  • Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) levels were measured to assess vitamin D status.
  • Statistical analyses, including logistic regression and linear regression, were used to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D < 20 ng/mL) was 46.7% in the study population.
  • Age (p=0.002) and season of blood collection (p=0.005) were significant factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.
  • Linear regression revealed associations between vitamin D levels and age, days of sun exposure, and season of assessment.

Conclusions:

  • Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent among pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.
  • Younger age, reduced sun exposure, and testing during autumn/winter are significant risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in this population.
  • Addressing vitamin D deficiency may be crucial for improving health outcomes in children with SCD.

Keywords:
Anemiapediatricssickle cell; sickle cell diseasevitamin Dvitamin D deficiency

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