Dr.Samar Altaf Pechuho
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Pakistan
Title: Determination of the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in Multiple sclerosis patients
Biography:
Abstract:
Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to poor treatment response in patients with MS. The aim of this study is to define the frequency of Vitamin D deficiency for early detection and timely intervention leading to improved morbidity rates.
Objective: To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in Multiple sclerosis patients present at neurology ward of a tertiary care hospital in Larkana
Outcome measure: frequency of vitamin D deficiency
Duration of study: 26 November 2016 to 28 May 2017
Study design: Cross-sectional study
Setting: Neurology Ward Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana
Subjects: Ages of 18 and 60 years, either gender, diagnosis of MS for > 3 months, sun exposure for at least 30 minutes and give written informed consent were included in this study. Patients that have other co-morbidities like heart failure determined by echo as EF>25 renal disease determined by serum Cr > 3mg/dl), endocrine disorders like hyperparathyroidism determined by blood PTH levels > 10 ng/dl, any patient on long-term steroid treatment for < 3 months, determined by physician prescription slip, patients already on vitamin D therapy for > 3 months were excluded.
Methods: This study was approved by an ethical review committee of the institute. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study after taking written informed consent. The demographic variables like name, age, gender, duration of sun exposure & duration of disease were collected by the researcher. Blood Sample for a vitamin D level blood sample of these patients was drawn on the same day and sent to a laboratory for vitamin D level in the pathological lab of CMCH. Blood Vitamin D levels in this study were measured by radioimmunoassay. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 19.
Results: Mean age of enrolled participants was 43.6±11 years. Of 85 enrolled participants, 36 (42.4%) were male and 49 (57.6%) were female, the mean duration of disease was 6.2±1.4 months, 70 (82.4%) participants were married and 15 (17.6%) were unmarried, 49 (57.6%) were employed, 43 (50.6%) were exposed to the sun for < 40 minutes a day. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency among patients with multiple sclerosis was 17 (20%) cases.
Conclusions: It is concluded from this study that the frequency of vitamin D deficiency among patients with multiple sclerosis was 20%.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, vitamin D deficiency, sun exposure