PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO REHABILITATION UNIT

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Vitamin D deficiency is assumed to be a problem of the past and therefore not in the forefront of treatment by the medical community. The truth is vitamin D deficiency is a chronic problem seen in all age groups and a variety of ethnic groups. Recently, it is recognized that vitamin D deficiency is an especially common problem in hospitalized and nursing home patients. Advanced age, inadequate vitamin D intake, and housebound living put patients at increased risk for Vitamin D deficiency, but on its own are insufficient to predict hypovitaminosis. The vitamin D status is important for the health and well being of patients after recent hospitalization after an acute illness or surgery. Given the nature of patient population admitted for rehabilitation at the Transitional Care Unit, we believe that it is important to characterize the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this subgroup. Thus, we are interested in measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone, calcium, albumin and alkaline phosphatase. We will characterize the extent of osteoporosis by measuring bone density and serum CTX - the assay for measurement of bone resorption activity. All participants will fill out a questionnaire with demographic information, history of sun exposure, pertinent medical and medication history. We plan on measuring 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and serum CTX. 20 mL of blood will be collected from the patients during routine blood draw at the time of admission. Patients will also undergo bone densitometry. There are no other study procedures required and there are no other study visits required. Patients will not be compensated for participation. This is an observational study to determine deficiency of vitamin D in patients admitted to the rehabilitation facility as well as to characterize extent of osteoporosis in this population. The outcomes of interest are the levels of the 25 (OH)D, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, parathyroid hormone, serum CTX and bone density.