Document Type
Article
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in a low-income peri-urban population.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in a low-income, unplanned settlement in Karachi, and comprised apparently healthy adults who were recruited randomly with informed consent. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured using a kit obtained from Roche Diagnostics. One-way analysis of variance and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results: Of the 858 subjects, 507(59%) were females and 351(41%) males (age range: 18-60 years). Prevalence estimates of vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/ml) and insufficiency (20.0-29.9ng/ml) were found to be 501(58.4%) and 269(31.4%), respectively. Odds ratio of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in females compared to males after adjusting for education and smoking status (p=0.001).CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among females in one of the peri-urban areas points towards a public health problem which requires attention of the medical community.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Journal of Pakistan Medical Association
Recommended Citation
Mehboobali, N.,
Iqbal, S. P.,
Iqbal, M. P.
(2015). High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in a low income peri-urban community in Karachi. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 65(9), 946-949.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_chs_chs/479