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Journal of Nutrition Research
An official journal of IAPEN India association

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Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Factors among Healthcare Professionals. A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital
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Journal of Nutrition Research

DOI: 10.55289/jnutres/v12i2.22

Year: 2024, Volume: 12, Issue: 2, Pages: 98-109

Original Article

Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Factors among Healthcare Professionals. A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital

Yuanling Wu1, Dan Zhang2, Pingzhi Wang3, Junyan Zhang4, Xiaolei Liu5, Ruonan Duan6, Gaiyan Du7, Fang Gao7∗

1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
2Department of Personnel, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
3Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
4Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
5Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
6Department of Clinical Nutrition, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
7Department of Prevention Care in Healthcare, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China

*Corresponding Author
Email: [email protected]

Received Date:17 July 2024, Accepted Date:10 December 2024, Published Date:30 December 2024

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health issue, affecting various populations including healthcare professionals. Despite their awareness and access to health resources, healthcare professionals are not immune to this deficiency. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency among licensed physicians and nurses in a tertiary hospital in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022, involving 1944 healthcare professionals (608 licensed physicians and 1336 nurses) at Shanxi Bethune Hospital. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Participants' demographic data, body mass index (BMI), and job-related factors were collected and analyzed. Significant differences were observed in age, gender distribution, and BMI between licensed physicians (LPs) and nurses. LPs were generally older, had a higher BMI, and a higher prevalence of hypertension. The median vitamin D level was slightly higher in LPs (9.4 ng/mL) compared to nurses (8.7 ng/mL). However, both groups exhibited a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, with 78.12% of LPs and 85.63% of nurses affected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses identified several factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. Age over 30 years was associated with a lower likelihood of deficiency (OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.92, P=0.013). Nurses were more likely to be deficient compared to LPs (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.44, P=0.001). Lower-than-normal uric acid (UA) levels were associated with an increased risk of deficiency (OR=1.51, P=0.034). Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among healthcare professionals, with nurses being more affected than licensed physicians. Factors such as age, job type, and UA levels significantly contribute to this deficiency. It is essential to implement multi-level interventions including increased sunlight exposure, work environment improvements, and regular health check-ups to enhance the vitamin D status of healthcare professionals.

Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Healthcare professionals, Cross-sectional study, Tertiary hospital, Risk factors, Nurses, Licensed physicians

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Copyright

© This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Published By India Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (IAPEN)

  • 24 January 2025

Year: 2024, Volume: 12, Issue: 2


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