| dc.description.abstract |
Background: With 13 months of sunshine in Ethiopia vitamin D deficiency is expected to be
uncommon, yet vitamin D deficiency is commonly observed among patients presenting with
nonspecific musculoskeletal symptoms. However, studies to assess whether the deficiency is
associated with inadequate exposure to sunshine were not studied widely.
Objective: To examine the association between vitamin D deficiency and sunshine exposure
among patients presenting with nonspecific musculoskeletal symptoms at Ras Desta Damtew
Hospital.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted from Jan 10, 2024, and Apr 15, 2024, at Ras Desta
Damtew Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa. The study was conducted at adult outpatient and
orthopedic referral clinics. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire
by professional nurses. Participants were screened for serum vitamin D levels in a standard
laboratory. Those with low serum levels of vitamin D (vitamin D deficient) were categorized as
cases, and those with normal serum vitamin D levels as controls. The association between Vitamin
D deficiency and sunshine exposure was assessed using the Logistic Regression model after
adjusting for known confounders.
Results: The mean sunshine exposure score was 5.49 for cases and 6.33 for controls. Sun
Exposure Score had a statistically significant association with the outcome (AOR= 0.72 with
95%CI (0.55, 0.95); p-value of 0.021) after controlling for possible confounding factors such as
age, sex and daily outdoor activities.
Conclusion & Recommendation: Lower serum vitamin D status was significantly associated with
low sunlight exposure scores; an increase by one unit in sunshine exposure score reduces risk of
vitamin D deficiency by 28%. Other conditions taken into account educating the public and
patients about sufficient exposure can reduce the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and hence
associated musculoskeletal morbidities in Addis Ababa. |
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