Prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in the acute rehabilitation population following traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation.

Participants: Participants were admitted from November 1st, 2010 through June 30th, 2015 with diagnosis of mild-severe TBI and had serum 25 OH vitamin D levels checked upon admission. 369 out of 845 met inclusion.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Main measures: 25 OH vitamin D, vitamin D treatment.

Results: The majority of patients were male (67%), Caucasian (89%) with private insurance (61%) and a mean age of 43.5±21.0 years. 25 OH vitamin D levels were categorized: deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20-29.9 ng/mL), and sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). There were 95 (26%) patients that were deficient, 131 (36%) that were insufficient, and 143 (39%) that were sufficient. Race/ethnicity was found to be significant (p = 0.0145) with the largest percentage of Hispanics found in the insufficient and deficient categories, and the largest percentage of Blacks in the deficient category. Most patients with deficient or insufficient vitamin D levels were prescribed vitamin D replacement during their rehab stay (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: The majority of patients undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation were found to have insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels, therefore it should be routinely screened and treated as indicated.

Keywords: Brain injuries; rehabilitation; vitamin D.