Vitamin D levels in 577 consecutive elective foot & ankle surgery patients. Issue 3 (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aujla, Randeep S.; Allen, Patricia E.; Ribbans, William J.
• Is Part Of: Foot and ankle surgery. Volume 25:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Vitamin D -- Foot & ankle surgery -- Epidemiology; Foot -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Ankle -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Ankle -- surgery -- Periodicals; Foot -- surgery -- Periodicals; Ankle -- Surgery; Foot -- Surgery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.58
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2017.12.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1268-7731

Abstract

Highlights: Mean vitamin D levels were 52 nmol/L with a standard deviation of 28 in 577 consecutive foot and ankle surgery patients. 1 in 5.7 patients had a level above 75 nmol/L (normal). 1 in 4.6 were grossly deficient. Age and gender did not affect vitamin D levels. Non-Caucasian ethnicity, non-summer months and location did affect levels. Abstract: Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a global concern impacting upon large communities and certain disease populations. It can adversely affect the outcome of orthopaedic operations. We aimed to perform an audit of the Vitamin D status of patients in two centres in the United Kingdom undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (vitamin D) levels were obtained prospectively in 577 consecutive elective patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery between October 2014 and March 2017 (29 months). Variables including age, gender, ethnicity, location, season, month and procedure type were recorded. Results: 577 patients were included over the study period. 62.0% were female. Mean age was 53.2 (median 54.5, range 16.7–86.6). 300 patients were treated in Northampton and 277 in Leicester. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels for the patient group were normally distributed. The mean was 52.3 nmol/L (SD 28.0; range 7.5–175) and the median 47.5 nmol/L. 21.7% were grossly deficient, 31.9% deficient, 28.9% insufficient and 17.5% within normal range. Age, gender and procedure type did not statistically affect vitamin D levels ( p = 0.5, t -test). Ethnicity, location and Winter season did affect Vitamin D levels ( p < 0.05). August was the most significant month with levels significantly higher than January, February, March, April, June, November and December ( p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Conclusions: Only 1 in 5.7 patients had a normal Vitamin D level and 1 in 4.6 were grossly deficient. Ethnicity and patient location significantly affected Vitamin D results. Summer months were noted to demonstrate significantly the highest levels and August the highest. We did not find that age or gender affected Vitamin D levels in our cohort.