Association of vitamin D deficiency and anemia in a hospitalized geriatric population: denutrition as a confounding factor

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and anemia in a hospitalized geriatric population. An observational study, at the acute care geriatric unit of Brest Hospital, France, was conducted among 226 patients aged ≥70 years consecutively hospitalized between January 22, 2010 and August 9, 2010. Vitamin D and hemoglobin levels were measured. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/L and anemia as defined by the World Health Organization. After adjustment for albuminemia, anemia was not significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio (OR) = 1.37; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.72-2.6). But anemia was significantly associated with hypoalbuminemia (OR = 2.08; 95 % CI = 1.11-3.91). Denutrition reflected by hypoalbuminemia could be a possible confounding factor in the previously described association between anemia and vitamin D deficiency.