Niveles de vitamina D en pacientes con lesión medular traumática en Chile

Abstract

IntroductionVitamin D plays an important role in bone metabolism and in various extra-skeletal functions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and to describe its association with the characteristics of TSCI and patients’ demographic characteristics. Material and methodA prospective descriptive study was conducted in 76 patients treated at the Rehabilitation Department of Hospital del Trabajador between July 30, 2015 and July 30, 2016. Blood measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) was performed by the radioimmunoassay method and a structured survey. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskall-Wallis test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, chi-square test, Fisher test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. ResultsThe median age was 49.5 years (SD 15.05) and the time from TSCI was between 1 month and 36 years. The mean 25-OH-D level was 16.4ng/mL (4.2-45.9ng/mL). Vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL) was found in 94.7% of the participants and severe deficiency (<10ng/mL) in 27.6%. No significant differences were found between the association of vitamin deficiency with sex, neurologic level, or severity of TSCI, season, amount of time of sun exposure or geographical area of residence. There was s an inverse correlation with a tendency to decrease 25-OH-D for each year from the onset of TSCI (Ro=-0.33, p value=.0040). ConclusionVitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with TSCI. An early diagnosis is important to provide adequate supplementation in order to decrease the prevalence of complications.