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Volume 2025, Issue 2
  • EISSN: 3008-0738

Abstract

Vitamin D insufficiency is on the increase globally, becoming a significant public health concern even in nations with abundant access to sunshine and food. Although Oman enjoys extended periods of sunshine, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has lately increased. The study aims to assess the levels of vitamin D in the adult Omani citizen population who sought primary healthcare in Oman.

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in Muscat, Oman, between January and December 2015, involving 250 primary health care users aged 18 years or older who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test result available. Deficit, insufficiency, and sufficiency of vitamin D were determined by their respective 25(OH)D levels: less than 50 nmol/L, between 50 and 74 nmol/L, and more than 75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL), respectively. Data were reported as numbers, percentages, and mean ± standard deviation. We applied a logistic regression model to the variables.

The study included 250 patients. Of the total, 95% were female (n = 238), whereas male patients comprised just 12 (5%). In terms of vitamin D levels, 227 patients were deficient (91%), 21 (8%) patients were insufficient, and only 2 (1%) patients had normal vitamin D levels. The main reasons for testing vitamin D levels were muscle ache: 71 patients (28%); screening: 67 patients (27%); bone ache: 53 patients (21%); and joint pain: 35 patients (14%). The majority of patients were tested in the following months: January (15%), February (13%), and March (14%). The research demonstrated a correlation between vitamin D levels and solar exposure, with the patients receiving sun exposure on a weekly basis (p = 0.000034).

The most common clinical presentations of vitamin D deficiency were bone pain and muscle pain, and there was substantial correlation between vitamin D levels and sun exposure groups. Low vitamin D levels are common among seemingly healthy Omani females residing in Muscat. Public awareness, supplementation, and fortification of food with vitamin D are warranted.

© 2024 The Author(s), Licensee HBKU Press.
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2025-03-03
2025-03-26
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/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2025.2
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Status of vitamin D deficiency among adult population presented to primary health care: A retrospective cross-sectional study
QJPH 2025, 2 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5339/qjph.2025.2
/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2025.2
/content/journals/10.5339/qjph.2025.2
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): adult population, Oman, primary health care and vitamin D deficiency
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