A cross-sectional observational study of the vitamin D status in children with chronic kidney disease at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg academic hospital
Date
2016-11-04
Authors
Raga, Shirika V
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Abstract
Introduction
Vitamin D has numerous important functions in the human body. There is limited
data available regarding vitamin D status in children with Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD) in South Africa.
Objectives
To determine the vitamin D status, as well as factors that affect it, in children with
CKD in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Methods
A cross-sectional observational study was performed on 69 patients who attended
the Renal Outpatient Clinic, and required routine phlebotomy, at Charlotte Maxeke
Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Division of Paediatric Nephrology, between
20/08/2013 and 20/05/2014.
Results
71% (n=49) of patients in our study sample were vitamin D sufficient. Significant
factors that influenced vitamin D status included albumin levels and the presence
of Nephrotic syndrome with relapse.
There was a statistically significant positive correlation between albumin and
vitamin D (p=0.00). As albumin levels increased so did the vitamin D levels.
Patients with Nephrotic Syndrome with relapse had significantly lower vitamin D
levels compared to patients with Nephrotic Syndrome in remission (p=0.00).
Conclusion
The majority of children with Chronic Kidney Disease in Johannesburg, South
Africa, are vitamin D sufficient. This is reassuring as it implies that there is no need
for routine vitamin D supplementation in this sample of children. However patients,
especially those with nephrotic syndrome with relapse, still need to be screened
for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and supplemented if necessary.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for
the degree in Masters of Medicine in Paediatrics (MMed)
Johannesburg, May 2015