Assessing the Quality of Life in Patients With Polyarthralgia Based on 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Levels

Abstract

Background Vitamin D deficiency is widespread, yet it is the most underdiagnosed and undertreated nutritional deficiency and has a very crucial clinical importance in today’s medical field. Objective To assess quality of life in patients with polyarthralgia based on 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-(OH)D) levels, which will help understand the importance of vitamin D in a broader sense. Methodology Our panel study was carried out in the department of orthopedics of a tertiary care hospital in southern India between October 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019. A total of 114 patients with polyarthralgia from the outpatient department were included in the study. Results In our study, there was a predominance of female patients (77.2%). Overall, 92.10% of our study population were aged between 21 and 60 years. The highest percentage of low vitamin D status was detected in unexplained polyarthralgia cases (52.63%), who did not have any comorbid condition except a low serum level of 25-(OH)D level. There was a strong association between quality of life, before and after supplementation of vitamin D (P < .0001), for every domain of the 36-item Short Form Survey. Conclusion The 36-item Short Form Survey analysis showed that the patients with polyarthralgia whose serum level of 25-(OH)D was found below the optimal range had dramatic improvement in their symptoms after vitamin D supplementation. Based on the findings of our study, we strongly recommend screening for vitamin D deficiency in those who are at risk, as features of low vitamin D are mostly reversible with proper supplementation.