Aims: This study determined the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among community-dwelling older adults admitted to GV Health’s medical units and explored associated factors.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 558 in-patients. Medical records provided data on vitamin D, demographics, peak C-reactive protein (CRP), final diagnoses, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), comorbidities (e.g., malabsorption, gastric surgery), medication use (e.g., steroids, anticonvulsants), and season of testing. Binary logistic regression examined associations between deficiency and age, sex, marital status, supplement use, comorbidities, and seasonal variations, adjusting for confounders.
Results: Overall, 33% were vitamin D deficient. Males were more likely deficient than females (p < 0.001). Patients with eGFR < 60 had higher odds of sufficiency (p = 0.020), and vitamin D supplement use was also associated with sufficiency (p = 0.012). Deficiency was more prevalent in spring and winter than in summer (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively). No significant associations emerged with age, marital status, length of stay, peak CRP, final diagnosis, or location of residence.
Conclusion: In this cohort, vitamin D deficiency is common, with males at higher risk. Supplement use correlates with sufficiency. The finding of higher sufficiency in patients with low eGFR may reflect altered 25-hydroxyvitamin D clearance in chronic kidney disease and warrants further investigation. This underscores the need for routine screening and intervention to mitigate health outcomes in older adults. Future research should explore sex-specific differences in vitamin D status and evaluate universal supplementation strategies to prevent deficiency in this vulnerable population.