A study on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with schizophrenia at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
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Abstract
Background: Vitamin D is considered a neurosteroid hormone which can impact brain development and normal brain function, as well as inflammatory and immunological process. Several risk factors of schizophrenia such as season of birth, latitude and migration are linked to vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with schizophrenia and investigate relationship between vitamin D levels and schizophrenia.
Objective: To study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients with schizophrenia at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study, data were collected from schizophrenic patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Questionnaire on personal data and sun exposure, assessment of psychological illness based on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in Thai version (PANSS-T) were obtained and blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25 (OH) D) levels were analyzed. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was assessed and presented in frequency and percentage, Chi-square test was used to identify factors contributing to vitamin D levels. Pearson’s correlation was used to identify factors relating to vitamin D levels. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to assess the relationship between vitamin D levels and PANSS-T score. Multiple linear regression analysis
was used to identify factors predicting vitamin D levels.
Results: There were 88 subjects who participated in this research project: mean age of 40.8 10.8 years old; 62.5% male; mean vitamin D level of 21.53
8.568 ng/ml. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is 45.5% - mean PANSS-T score of 45.56
9.56. Based on the correlation analysis, vitamin D levels are negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = - 0248, P = 0.017). Vitamin D levels are not related to PANSS-T scores. In addition, Factors predicting vitamin D levels are BMI, sex and duration of illness (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The study reveals that 45.5% of schizophrenic patients treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital had vitamin D deficiency. There is a negative correlation between vitamin D levels and BMI, sex and duration of illness. Factors predicting vitamin D levels are BMI, sex and duration of illness. The study demonstrates
no relationship between vitamin D levels and PANSS-T score.