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

Objective: 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. Method: 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. Results: 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 significant association between disease stage and vitamin D deficiency (p=0.311). Conclusion: 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.