1887
Volume 2025, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 0253-8253
  • EISSN: 2227-0426

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a significant public health issue, with far-reaching effects on bone health and overall well-being, especially among children and adolescents.

This cross-sectional, record-based study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in individuals under 18 years old who attended Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centers in Qatar between 2018 and 2019.

Data were extracted from 48,947 electronic medical records, each containing at least one valid serum vitamin D test result. Severe deficiency was defined as serum vitamin D levels <10 ng/ml. Participants undergoing vitamin D therapy were excluded from the prevalence analysis.

Findings revealed that infants (under 1 year) and children aged 1–4 years had the lowest rates of severe deficiency at 3.8% and 3.4% respectively. The prevalence increased with age, reaching 40% among adolescents (10–17 years). Females had significantly higher rates of severe deficiency (30.4%) compared to males (15.3%).

Multivariate logistic regression identified age, sex, and nationality as significant predictors. Adolescents were 17 times more likely to have a severe deficiency compared to children under 5 years. Females had a 2.4-fold increased risk, and individuals from Southern Asia had a 5.7-fold higher risk compared to other nationalities.

This study highlights a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescents in Qatar, particularly among females and certain ethnic groups. To address this emerging health issue in the pediatric population, targeted interventions, such as awareness campaigns, supplementation programs, and policy-level strategies, are essential.

© 2025 Khudadad, Alnuaimi, Veettil, Zainel, licensee HBKU Press.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.112
2025-12-11
2025-12-13

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/qmj/2025/4/qmj.2025.112.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.112&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Del Valle HB, Yaktine AL, Taylor CL, Ross AC. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US); 2011.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Kalajian TA, Aldoukhi A, Veronikis AJ, Persons K, Holick MF. Ultraviolet B light emitting diodes (LEDs) are more efficient and effective in producing vitamin D3 in human skin compared to natural sunlight. Sci Rep. 2017 Sep; 7:(1):11489. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11362-2
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Zhao R, Zhang W, Ma C, Zhao Y, Xiong R, Wang H, et al.. Immunomodulatory function of vitamin D and its role in autoimmune thyroid disease. Front Immunol. 2021 Feb; 12:: 574967. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.574967
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med. 2011 Aug; 59:(6):3–4. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Lee JY, So T-Y, Thackray J. A review on vitamin d deficiency treatment in pediatric patients. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Oct; 18:(4):3–4. https://doi.org/10.5863/1551-6776-18.4.277
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Palacios C, Gonzalez L. Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem?J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2013 Nov; 144: Pt A:138–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.11.003
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Haimi M, Kremer R. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency from childhood to adulthood: insights from a sunny country. World J Clin Pediatr. 2017 Feb; 6:(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v6.i1.1
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Tsiaras W, Weinstock MA. Factors influencing vitamin D status. Acta Derm Venereol. 2011 Mar; 91:(2):3–4. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-0980
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Holick MF. The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2017 Jun; 18:(2):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-017-9424-1
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Al-Afif KAM, Buraik MA, Buddenkotte J, Mounir M, Gerber R, Ahmed HM, et al.. Understanding the burden of atopic dermatitis in Africa and the Middle East. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019 Jun; 9:(2):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-019-0285-2
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, Aloia JF, Brannon PM, Clinton SK, et al.. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jan; 96:(1):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2704
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, et al.. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jul; 96:(7):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2011-0385
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Primary Health Care Corporation . Clinical practice guidelines for the management of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescence. Qatar; 2018.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Zainel AAL, Qotba H, Al Nuaimi A, Syed M. Vitamin D status among adults (18-65 years old) attending primary healthcare centres in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the Electronic Medical Records for the year 2017. BMJ Open. 2019 Aug; 9:(8):e029334. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029334
     [Google Scholar]
  15. World Health Organization . WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/Height-for-Age, Weight-for-Age, Weight-for-Length, Weight-for-Height and Body Mass Index-for-Age: Methods and Development. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2006.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. World Health Organization . WHO Anthro for Personal Computers, Version 3.2.2: Software for Assessing Growth and Development of the World’s Children. 3.2.2 ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Faul F, Erdfelder E, Buchner A, Lang AG. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav Res Methods. 2009 Nov; 41:(4):3–4. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Badawi A, Arora P, Sadoun E, Al-Thani AA, Thani MH. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Qatar: a systematic review. J Public Health Res. 2012 Dec; 1:(3):3–4. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2012.e36
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Gordon CM, DePeter KC, Feldman HA, Grace E, Emans SJ. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Jun; 158:(6):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.158.6.531
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Marwaha RK, Tandon N, Reddy DR, Aggarwal R, Singh R, Sawhney RC, et al.. Vitamin D and bone mineral density status of healthy schoolchildren in northern India. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Aug; 82:(2):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn.82.2.477
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Kumar J, Muntner P, Kaskel FJ, Hailpern SM, Melamed ML. Prevalence and associations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in US children: NHANES 2001-2004. Pediatrics. 2009 Sep; 124:(3):e362–70. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-0051
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Rabenberg M, Scheidt-Nave C, Busch MA, Thamm M, Rieckmann N, Durazo-Arvizu RA, et al.. Implications of standardization of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data for the evaluation of vitamin D status in Germany, including a temporal analysis. BMC Public Health. 2018 Jul; 18:(1):845. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5769-y
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Foo LH, Zhang Q, Zhu K, Ma G, Trube A, Greenfield H, et al.. Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing. Osteoporos Int. 2009 Mar; 20:(3):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-008-0667-2
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Maguire JL, Birken CS, Khovratovich M, DeGroot J, Carsley S, Thorpe KE, et al.. Modifiable determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in early childhood: opportunities for prevention. JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Mar; 167:(3):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1001/2013.jamapediatrics.226
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Garg MK, Tandon N, Marwaha RK, Menon AS, Mahalle N. The relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathormone and bone mineral density in Indian population. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2014 Jan; 80:(1):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.12248
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Angurana SK, Angurana RS, Mahajan G, Kumar N, Mahajan V. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy children in north India. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Nov; 27:(11-12):1151–6. https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2013-0387
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Cairncross CT, Stonehouse W, Conlon CA, Grant CC, McDonald B, Houghton LA, et al.. Predictors of vitamin D status in New Zealand preschool children. Matern Child Nutr. 2017 Jul; 13:(3):e12340. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12340
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Mithal A, Wahl DA, Bonjour JP, Burckhardt P, Dawson-Hughes B, Eisman JA, et al.. Global vitamin D status and determinants of hypovitaminosis D. Osteoporos Int. 2009 Nov; 20:(11):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-0954-6
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Prentice A. Vitamin D deficiency: a global perspective. Nutr Rev. 2008 Oct; 66:(10 Suppl 2): S153–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00100.x
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Bener A, Al-Ali M, Hoffmann GF. Vitamin D deficiency in healthy children in a sunny country: associated factors. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009; 60: Suppl 5:2–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480802400487
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Public Health England FSA . National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Results from Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009–2011/2012). Secondary National Diet and Nutrition Survey Results from Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008/2009–2011/2012). London: Public Health England. 2014.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Batieha A, Khader Y, Jaddou H, Hyassat D, Batieha Z, Khateeb M, et al.. Vitamin D status in Jordan: dress style and gender discrepancies. Ann Nutr Metab. 2011; 58:(1):3–4. https://doi.org/10.1159/000323097
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Canaan Negash SPatrick F, Evan A. Micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia associated with body mass index in Australian adults: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2022 Dec; 12:(12):e061442. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061442
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Recognition and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency . Code CLA-G48V03.0. Date issued 23/08/2016. Date Reviewed 03/03/2024. Next revision 03/03/2027. Clinical Practice Guidelines System - Power Apps. Accessed September 28, 2025.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Alayed Albarri EM, Sameer Alnuaimi A, Abdelghani D. Effectiveness of vitamin D2 compared with vitamin D3 replacement therapy in a primary healthcare setting: a retrospective cohort study. Qatar Med J. 2022 Aug; 2022:(3):29. https://doi.org/10.5339/qmj.2022.35
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.112
Loading
Prevalence and selected predictors of vitamin D deficiency among children and adolescents attending primary health care centers: A cross-sectional record-based study, Qatar
Qatar Medical Journal 2025, 112 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5339/qmj.2025.112
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.112
/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2025.112
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): adolescents, children, deficiency, primary care, Qatar and Vitamin D

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error