Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and secondary hyperparathyroidism in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit in Gran Canaria. Preliminary study.

Background: vitamin D deficiency is very common, and has been demonstrated in multiple studies in both the general population and in patients with different pathologies. However, it has been little studied in patients affected by spinal injury. Objective: to study the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and the possible development of secondary hyperparathyroidism in a population of patients with spinal injury. Material and method: transverse descriptive study carried out in 104 patients affected by spinal injury. A clinical history was taken, a detailed physical examination carried out and a blood sample while fasting taken, with the least possible compression, from all patients. The analytical parameters were analysed using automated techniques and the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25HCC) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) was performed using electroimmunochemiluminescence (ECLIA). Results: the global mean value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 20.1 ± 11.6 n/ml. 84.6% of the patients had blood values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D lower than 30 ng/ml and 62% of all patients showed values lower than 20 ng/ml. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was similar in men and women. However, although we found an inverse correlation between levels of PTH and hydroxyvitamin D, only 5.8% of patients ended up developing secondary hyperparathyroidism. Conclusions: there is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with spinal injury. It is advisable, therefore, to include a study of this metabolite in the care protocol of these patients to correct these deficiencies as and when they are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]