Vitamin D profile of patients with spinal cord injury and post-stroke hemiplegia: All in the same boat

作者：Benlidayi Ilke Coskun^*; Basaran Sibel; Seydaoglu Gulsah; Guzel Rengin

来源：Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2016, 29(2): 205-210.

DOI：10.3233/BMR-150615

• Hemiplegia
• neurological disorders
• spinal cord injury
• vitamin D
• vitamin D insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and hemiplegia are at risk of fractures partly due to decreased bone mineral density with relation to the low levels of vitamin D.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the vitamin D profile of patients with SCI and post-stroke hemiplegia.
METHODS: 25(OH) D levels of patients with SCI and hemiplegia were obtained from the electronic medical record database and compared with age-and sex-matched non-disabled controls. Furthermore, the effect of Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) level and Brunnstrom's recovery stage, on vitamin D insufficiency, was studied.
RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 173 individuals (118 patients and 55 controls). Vitamin D levels and sufficiency rates of the neurologically disabled patients was significantly lower than that of controls (p = 0.000 and p = 0.000, respectively). However, there was no difference between patients with SCI and hemiplegia regarding the 25(OH) D levels and vitamin D insufficiency (p = 0.303 and p = 0.952, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in vitamin D status by American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) level and Brunnstrom's score. However, regression analysis revealed that vitamin D insufficiency rate of non-functionally ambulatory (FAC = 0-2) patients was higher than that of functionally ambulatory (FAC = 3-5) ones (p = 0.044).
CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D status of patients with neurological disabilities was lower than that of controls. Non-functionally ambulatory patients had higher vitamin D insufficiency rate than functionally ambulatory patients. Preventative measures including adequate supplementation of vitamin D should be directed to neurologically disabled subjects, particularly those with non-functional ambulation.

• 出版日期2016