Abstract
Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem around
the world. This study aimed to evaluate the nationwide prevalence of
vitamin D status in tertiary care hospitals in Turkey.
Methods: Retrospectively, the data of vitamin D levels from 33
tertiary care hospitals’ clinical biochemistry laboratories around
Turkey between 2 January 2016 and 31 December 2016 were conducted.
Results: In total 706434 serum samples from adult subjects
(F/M: 469028/ 237406; 66.4%/ 33.6%) were included. While vitamin D
levels were sufficient in 20.3% (n=14222), they were insufficient in
21.9% (n=154360) and deficient in 57.8% (n=408882). Of the deficient
group, 25.0% (176608) had levels <10 ng/mL consistent with
profound deficiency.
We observed the highest rates of deficiency in those aged between 18-29
years 62.9% (n=70235) and lowest rates in 60-69 years (52.3%, n=61121)
and in 70-79 years (52.3%, n=32397). Hypervitaminosis D were consisting
of 5.5% of adult subjects. highest rates of hypervitaminosis D were
observed in over 80 years (6.6%) and 70-79 years (6.5%), and the
lowest in 18-29 years (2.8%). Deficiency rates were 55.4% (n=131468)
in men and 59.2% (n=277384) in women. Higher deficiency rates were
observed in January (67.9%), February (71.6%), and March (66.7%).
Conclusion: In this
cohort, over half of the subjects admitted to the tertiary care
hospitals in Turkey had vitamin D deficiency, required vitamin D
supplementation. The elderly population had the lowest prevalence of
vitamin D insufficiency and the highest prevalence of hypervitaminosis
D. That may indicate overtreatment of vitamin D supplementation in the
elderly group.