Uzma Shamsi1, Iqbal Azam2, Azra Shamsi3, Dua Shamsi4, David Callen5. 1. School of Medicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. uzma.shamsi@adelaide.edu.au. 2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. 3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Combined Military Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. 4. Division of Data Science, University of California, Berkeley, USA. 5. School of Medicine, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a serious public health problem, even in sun-drenched cities like Karachi, Pakistan. We investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, and lifestyle factors among premenopausal and postmenopausal women (n = 784). METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information and serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured after the interviews. RESULTS: A total of 57% of women were vitamin D deficient with higher vitamin D deficiency found among premenopausal women (64.7%) compared to postmenopausal women (49%). The median serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (IQR) were 16.7 ng/ml (IQR 9.8-30.0). Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were lower socioeconomic status (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.15-3.48), younger age with highest vitamin D deficiency found in < 35 years of age group (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.76-5.51), and winter season (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07-2.15) after adjusting for multiple confounders. The use of vitamin D supplement (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.92) and vigorous exercise (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.80) were protective against vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, with detrimental health effects, among younger women belonging to lower socioeconomic status and during the winter season. The use of vitamin D supplements and vigorous exercise were protective measures. Public health campaigns are needed for education and awareness about vitamin D deficiency to improve vitamin D status for younger women living in poor environments.
BACKGROUND:Vitamin Ddeficiency is becoming a serious public health problem, even in sun-drenched cities like Karachi, Pakistan. We investigated the prevalence of vitamin Ddeficiency and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, and lifestyle factors among premenopausal and postmenopausal women (n = 784). METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information and serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured after the interviews. RESULTS: A total of 57% of women were vitamin D deficient with higher vitamin Ddeficiency found among premenopausal women (64.7%) compared to postmenopausal women (49%). The median serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (IQR) were 16.7 ng/ml (IQR 9.8-30.0). Factors associated with vitamin Ddeficiency were lower socioeconomic status (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.15-3.48), younger age with highest vitamin Ddeficiency found in < 35 years of age group (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.76-5.51), and winter season (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07-2.15) after adjusting for multiple confounders. The use of vitamin D supplement (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.92) and vigorous exercise (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05-0.80) were protective against vitamin Ddeficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a high prevalence of vitamin Ddeficiency, with detrimental health effects, among younger women belonging to lower socioeconomic status and during the winter season. The use of vitamin D supplements and vigorous exercise were protective measures. Public health campaigns are needed for education and awareness about vitamin Ddeficiency to improve vitamin D status for younger women living in poor environments.
Entities:
Keywords:
Postmenopausal; Premenopausal; Socioeconomic status; Vitamin D deficiency
Authors: Kashaf Junaid; Abdul Rehman; David A Jolliffe; Kristie Wood; Adrian R Martineau Journal: BMC Womens Health Date: 2015-10-12 Impact factor: 2.809