Hussam Mohammed Alhaidari, Fawzi Babtain, Khalid Alqadi, Abdulrahman Bouges, Saleh Baeesa, Youssef A Al-Said
{"title":"Association between serum vitamin D levels and age in patients with epilepsy: a retrospective study from an epilepsy center in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Hussam Mohammed Alhaidari, Fawzi Babtain, Khalid Alqadi, Abdulrahman Bouges, Saleh Baeesa, Youssef A Al-Said","doi":"10.5144/0256-4947.2022.262","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various medical conditions such as bone loss, decreased mineralization, endocrine disorders, and central nervous system disorders, including epilepsy. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with epilepsy (PWE). However, the specific association between vitamin D levels and age in PWE is unclear.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Identify the relation between vitamin D level and age in PWE and evaluate factors that may play a role in seizure control.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Retrospective analytical medical record review SETTING: Outpatient epilepsy research clinic in Saudi Arabia PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2016 and April 2020, we selected eligible PWE aged older than 14 years whose vita-min D levels were recorded at least once after reviewing 1550 patient electronic files. We analyzed data on serum vitamin D level by age and other factors, vitamin D supplement use, seizure classification, and conducted a multivariate logistic regression to assess associations with seizure control.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Relationships between vitamin D levels and age and factors that might affect seizure control.</p><p><strong>Sample size: </strong>524 patients RESULTS: The prevalence of low serum vitamin D levels was high (86.8%). The median vitamin D level in all patients was low (38 nmol/L), and was lower in young PWE than in adult PWE (<i>P</i><.01). Only 146 patients received vitamin D supplements. High vitamin D levels were associated with a 40% seizure reduction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency is underestimated in PWE in Saudi Arabia, and is more prevalent among young adults and patients on polytherapy than in other PWE. Patients with high vitamin D levels had good seizure control compared with those with low levels. The effect of vitamin D supplements on seizure control should be further investigated in randomized control trials.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>Retrospective study and no categorization by presence of supplementation.</p><p><strong>Conflict of interest: </strong>None.</p>","PeriodicalId":8016,"journal":{"name":"Annals of Saudi Medicine","volume":"42 4","pages":"262-268"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5e/33/0256-4947.2022.262.PMC9357294.pdf","citationCount":"6","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annals of Saudi Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2022.262","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 6
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various medical conditions such as bone loss, decreased mineralization, endocrine disorders, and central nervous system disorders, including epilepsy. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with epilepsy (PWE). However, the specific association between vitamin D levels and age in PWE is unclear.
Objectives: Identify the relation between vitamin D level and age in PWE and evaluate factors that may play a role in seizure control.
Design: Retrospective analytical medical record review SETTING: Outpatient epilepsy research clinic in Saudi Arabia PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2016 and April 2020, we selected eligible PWE aged older than 14 years whose vita-min D levels were recorded at least once after reviewing 1550 patient electronic files. We analyzed data on serum vitamin D level by age and other factors, vitamin D supplement use, seizure classification, and conducted a multivariate logistic regression to assess associations with seizure control.
Main outcome measures: Relationships between vitamin D levels and age and factors that might affect seizure control.
Sample size: 524 patients RESULTS: The prevalence of low serum vitamin D levels was high (86.8%). The median vitamin D level in all patients was low (38 nmol/L), and was lower in young PWE than in adult PWE (P<.01). Only 146 patients received vitamin D supplements. High vitamin D levels were associated with a 40% seizure reduction.
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is underestimated in PWE in Saudi Arabia, and is more prevalent among young adults and patients on polytherapy than in other PWE. Patients with high vitamin D levels had good seizure control compared with those with low levels. The effect of vitamin D supplements on seizure control should be further investigated in randomized control trials.
Limitations: Retrospective study and no categorization by presence of supplementation.
期刊介绍:
The Annals of Saudi Medicine (ASM) is published bimonthly by King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We publish scientific reports of clinical interest in English. All submissions are subject to peer review by the editorial board and by reviewers in appropriate specialties. The journal will consider for publication manuscripts from any part of the world, but particularly reports that would be of interest to readers in the Middle East or other parts of Asia and Africa. Please go to the Author Resource Center for additional information.