Change in serum level of vitamin D and associated factors at early phase of bone healing among fractured adult patients at University of Gondar teaching hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective follow up study.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem and it affects more than one billion people worldwide. Vitamin D is crucial for bone mineralization and ossification. Patients with fractures need Vitamin D for the healing of their fractured bone. The current study was carried out to determine if there is change in the serum level of Vitamin-D associated with factors at early phase of fractured bone healing (ossification) process among adult fractured patients at University of Gondar teaching hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS: This facility-based prospective follow up study was conducted from March to June 2016. Data was collected by an interviewer, and pretested and structured questionnaires were used. Biological samples were collected to determine the serum level of vitamin-D in all subjects. In addition, X-Ray findings were used to determine the early phase of bone healing process. Data was entered into EPI INFO version 3.5.3 and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to screen for factors associated with decreased serum levels of Vitamin-D. In the Multivariate regression analysis, those variables which had a P-value of <0.05 were considered as independently associated with change in serum level of Vitamin-D.

RESULTS: A total of 118 adult patients with fractures participated in this study. The prevalence of patients' with decreased serum levels of vitamin-D at post-test was 63.6% [95% CI; (0.551-0.720)]. Inadequate intake of milk and milk products in the 1st week of fracture [AOR = 95%CI: 0.20 (0.05-0.90)], Poor Dietary Diversity Score [AOR = 95% CI: 29.1 (2.27-371.65)], and ossified bone [AOR =95% CI: 4.10 (1.12-14.95)] showed statistically significant association with decreased serum level of Vitamin-D.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Decreased serum level of Vitamin-D at early phase of fractured bone healing process was found in the majority of patients (>63%) raising concern for Vitamin D deficiency to be a significant public health problem in the study population. It was statistically associated with: poor dietary diversity score, in adequate intake of milk and milk products in the 1(st)one week of fracture and ossified (healed) bone. Introducing hospital based Vitamin-D supplementation and integrated with health and nutritional education is a vital intervention needed to improve serum levels of Vitamin-D.