Evaluation of vitamin D levels in patients with chronic low back-leg pain

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to examine the relationship between the levels of vitamin D and patients withchronic low back-leg pain (CLBLP) and to investigate its effects on pain and functional capacity.Methods: 145 patients (female/male:103/42) with CLBLP, aged between 35 and 65 years (mean age:53,06± 8,14), participated in the study. Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) was used to measure the state ofpain. Pain-related functional capacity was evaluated through Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Patientswere classiŞed into three groups based on their serum vitamin D levels: normal ( 30 ng/ml), vitamin DinsufŞciency (21e29 ng/ml), and vitamin D deŞciency ( 20 ng/ml).Results: We found that 22,8% of patients (n:33) had vitamin D deŞciency, 42,8% (n:62) had vitamin DinsufŞciency, and 34,5% (n:50) had normal levels of vitamin D. VAS scores were 4,75 ± 0,93; 4,66 ± 0,97and 4,52± 0,90 for patients with vitamin D deŞciency, vitamin D insufŞciency, and normal levels ofvitamin D, respectively. We found that there was no signiŞcant relationship between vitamin D level andVAS score (p>0,05). ODI scores were 18,78 ± 7,89; 15,46 ± 5,57 and 14,52 ± 7,19 for patients with vitaminD deŞciency, vitamin D insufŞciency, and normal levels of vitamin D, respectively. CLBLP-related functional capacity was found to be signiŞcantly lower in patients with vitamin D deŞciency when comparedto other two groups (p< 0,05).Conclusion: Vitamin D deŞciency may lead to lower functional capacity, and clinically, Vit D levels shouldbe checked in musculoskeletal pain patients at risk of Vit D deŞciency.Level of Evidence: Level IV, Diagnostic study.