Abstract:
Background: Literature showed that HIV +ve individuals were deficient for
vitamin D as well. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the top most commonly
observed abnormality and an independent prognostic marker of HIV disease.
The scientific groups’ emphases on the likely impact of its dearth on HIV
infested populace. One of most communal comorbidities in HIV-1 patients is
insufficiency of Vitamin D (Vit D), which is estimated by measuring 25-
hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations. Patients having vitamin D levels <
20ng/ml (50nmol/l) were considered as having vitamin D deficiency. HIV
infection & ART (antiretroviral therapy) may create risk factors for insufficiency
of vitamin D, it also has a role in slowing down HIV ailment progression.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Medicine
Department in Services Hospital Lahore from June 22, 2017 to December 22,
2017. 160 Patients with HIV confirmed by ELISA method were selected by
non-Probability Consecutive sampling technique. Data was entered in SPSS
v23.0 & Chi square test was applied.
Results: Out of 160, Frequency of Vitamin D deficiency was 111(69.4%).
Results demonstrated that majority of patients 74(46.25%) are having disease
for 1-3 years. While 54(33.75%) patients are having the disease for <1 year
and 32(20.0%) are having the disease for >3 years. There were no significant
differences between Vitamin D deficiency with age, gender and duration of
HIV/AIDS (p-values 0.123, 0.136 & 0.634 respectively).
Conclusion: Frequency of vitamin D deficiency is very high. This
recommends that all HIV positive individuals should be considered for routine
screening. Low serum calcium should prompt investigation of 25-OHD levels.
