Vitamin D levels among individuals attending a tertiary care hospital in Manipur: A retrospective study

ABSTRACT Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread public health issue, impacting over a billion individuals globally. Studies show a high prevalence of this deficiency in India. Region-specific studies in this regard, particularly from North-East India, are very limited. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of serum vitamin D deficiency and to evaluate its association with demographic factors (age and gender) and seasonal variation in individuals attending a tertiary care hospital in Manipur. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, using 4442 patient records collected between November 2022 and November 2024. Serum vitamin D levels were measured via electrochemiluminescence immunoassay using the Roche Cobas e411 analyzer. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t tests were used for data analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v26.0. Results: Out of 4442 participants, 62.9% were male and 37.1% female. The mean age was 35.65 ± 20.2 years. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were observed in 37.3% and 34.7% of the population, respectively. Only 17.3% had sufficient levels, and 10.7% showed toxic levels. Males had significantly higher median vitamin D levels (25 ng/mL) than females (22 ng/mL), P < 0.001. Infants had the highest mean levels (43.35 ± 20.89 ng/mL), and the lowest levels were noted during winter (22.00 ± 14.93 ng/mL). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Manipur, influenced significantly by gender, age, and seasonal variation. These findings underscore the need for region-specific public health strategies and nutritional interventions.