Vitamin D deficiency in pediatric sickle cell disease patients without crisis – A cry to investigate it on priority

Abstract

Objective: The alarming increase in vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been shown to result in compounded risks of major health problems globally. As sickle cell disease (SCD) children are already health compromised, the co-morbidities escalate early in life, demanding an early detection, to minimize the adverse effects. This study determined vitamin D levels in children with SCD without a crisis to check for probable associations with inflammation and infections if any.


Methods: SCD children aged 5–16 years, in a steady state, were enrolled in the study after taking necessary consent and ethical clearance. Hb, serum calcium, vitamin D, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were analyzed.


Results: VDD was seen in most of the children with SCD irrespective of gender and age. Males aged 5–10 years showed significance (P = 0.0375) with vitamin D and white blood cell (WBC) (P = 0.0015) but males aged 11–16-year age group exhibited a very strong-positive correlation with vitamin D (r = 0.9862) and a very strong-negative correlation with Hb (r = −0.9819) and hsCRP (r = −0.9907). Among females, the 11–16-year age group patients exhibited a significant association with vitamin D (P = 0.0487), Ca (P = 0.0118), Hb (P = 0.0007), and hsCRP (P = 0.0001) levels. Correlation “r” values in this age group show a strong-negative correlation with WBC levels (r = −0.6525) as well as hsCRP (r = − 0.6550).


Conclusion: The increased deficiency of vitamin D in SCD children should be addressed at early ages of life, to reduce the occurrence and severity of associated comorbidities.

Keywords:

diagnostic marker early intervention vitamin D
Khan, S. A., Al Zughaibi , T., & Khan, S. A. (2024). Vitamin D deficiency in pediatric sickle cell disease patients without crisis – A cry to investigate it on priority. International Journal of Health Sciences, 18(6), 3–9. Retrieved from https://ijhs.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/8633
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Author Biographies

Torki Al Zughaibi , a] King Fahd Medical Research Center King Abdulaziz University Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; b] Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Associate Professor,

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Sarah A. Khan, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

M.Phil (student volunteer on project)