Prevalence and Correlates of Vitamin D Deficiency among Healthcare Workers of a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit in North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers in intensive care units may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency because of prolonged indoor duties and limited sunlight exposure. Aim: This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency among healthcare workers in a neurosurgical intensive care unit at a tertiary-care hospital. Methods: Demographic, occupational, dietary and lifestyle data from 55 healthcare workers were collected using a structured questionnaire and their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum values  <20 ng/mL. Prevalence was expressed with 95% confidence intervals; associations were assessed using Fisher’s exact test, and independent correlates were identified by multivariable logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 38.96 ± 10.36 years and 58.2% were female. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 23 participants (41.8%; 95% CI 29.7–55.0), and 78.2% had concentrations below 30 ng/mL. On univariable analysis, deficiency was more frequent among physicians than nursing/technical staff (66.7% vs 29.7%; P = 0.018), those working >8 vs ≤8 hours/day (65.0% vs 28.6%; P = 0.012), those with <1 vs ≥1 hour/day of sunlight exposure (50.0% vs 9.1%; P = 0.017), and those sleeping <6 vs ≥6 hours/day (51.4% vs 22.2%; P = 0.047). On multivariable analysis, younger age (aOR 0.88 per year; 95% CI 0.79–0.97) and working >8 hours/day (aOR 5.01; 95% CI 1.22–20.51) were independently associated with deficiency. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was common among neurosurgical ICU healthcare workers. Younger age and prolonged working hours were independent correlates, supporting targeted screening and supplementation for staff with long duty hours.

Keywords: vitamin D deficiency; healthcare workers; neurosurgical intensive care unit; sunlight exposure; occupational health; serum calcium; North India