Vitamin D Insufficiency Risk Score for Screening for Vitamin D Insufficiency

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vitamin D Deficiency/Insufficiency (VDD/VDI) is now recognized as a pandemic. Vitamin D is a versatile yet crucial factor which is vital for many metabolic functions in our body. Till now there is no screening tool for VDD/VDI. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a screening tool Vitamin D Insufficiency Risk Score (VDIRS). METHODS: This study was a rural community based cross-sectional study. It was done during May 2016 to April 2017 among 197 adults residing in rural West Bengal. After a thorough literature review and discussion with the field experts, four characteristics (BMI, Physical activity, Daily Sun exposure, Diet) were considered for VDIRS. Data was collected after taking informed consent. After interviewing every individual was examined for height, weight and blood was collected for vitamin 25-(OH) D. Weights were given to VDIRS characteristic according to Adjusted Odds' Ratio. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were utilized to validate and find out optimum cut off for VDIRS using Youden's index for VDD/VDI with the use of R software. RESULTS: Only 133 (67.5%) had Vitamin D insufficiency. On ROC curves for VDIRS for VDI and VDD, AUC was 0.83 and 0.77 which signifies VDIRS as a good screening and predictive tool. A score of VDIRS ≥14 had sensitivity of 78.2% and specificity of 75.0% for VDI. CONCLUSION: Use of the VDIRS can make mass screening for undiagnosed VDI/VDD in India more cost effective. Researchers strongly believe and perceive a necessity of such validated score in the present scenario.