Evaluation of vitamin D levels in patients with chronic low back-leg pain

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the relationship between the levels of vitamin D and patients with chronic low back-leg pain (CLBLP) and to investigate its effects on pain and functional capacity. METHODS: 145 patients (female/male:103/42) with CLBLP, aged between 35 and 65 years (mean age: 53,06 ± 8,14), participated in the study. Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) was used to measure the state of pain. Pain-related functional capacity was evaluated through Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Patients were classified into three groups based on their serum vitamin D levels: normal (≥30 ng/ml), vitamin D insufficiency (21–29 ng/ml), and vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/ml). RESULTS: We found that 22,8% of patients (n:33) had vitamin D deficiency, 42,8% (n:62) had vitamin D insufficiency, and 34,5% (n:50) had normal levels of vitamin D. VAS scores were 4,75 ± 0,93; 4,66 ± 0,97 and 4,52 ± 0,90 for patients with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D insufficiency, and normal levels of vitamin D, respectively. We found that there was no significant relationship between vitamin D level and VAS score (p>0,05). ODI scores were 18,78 ± 7,89; 15,46 ± 5,57 and 14,52 ± 7,19 for patients with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D insufficiency, and normal levels of vitamin D, respectively. CLBLP-related functional capacity was found to be significantly lower in patients with vitamin D deficiency when compared to other two groups (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency may lead to lower functional capacity, and clinically, Vit D levels should be checked in musculoskeletal pain patients at risk of Vit D deficiency. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Diagnostic study.