PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES, A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Author(s)
Shafia Bashir, PhD1, Geer Mohammad Ishaq, PhD1, Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, MBBS, MD2.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India, 2Department of Endocrinology, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, 190011, India.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, India, 2Department of Endocrinology, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, 190011, India.
OBJECTIVES: Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a major microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), contributes substantially to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to renal dysfunction, but its role in DN remains unclear. This study assessed the prevalence and association between vitamin D status and DN compared with T2DM without DN.
METHODS: A total of 399 participants (299 DN, 100 T2DM without DN) were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data, including serum 25(OH)D, were collected. Group differences were tested using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, and multinomial logistic regression assessed the association between vitamin D status and DN (p<0.05) using STATA.
RESULTS: Patients with DN were older (58.2 ± 7.95 vs. 51.4 ± 9.94 years, p < 0.001), had more advanced CKD (stages 2-3b: 84.6% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.001), and higher albuminuria (moderate/severe: 98.7% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.001). DN patients also had poorer glycemic control, higher urea, creatinine, liver enzymes, and uric acid, lower serum albumin, and dyslipidemia (all p < 0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was more common in DN (37.7% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001). Unadjusted analyses showed that T2DM without nephropathy had markedly lower risks of vitamin D deficiency (RRR 0.09; 95% CI 0.04-0.19) and insufficiency (RRR 0.13; 95% CI 0.05-0.26; both p < 0.001). After adjustment, the association with deficiency remained significant (RRR 0.04; 95% CI 0.01-0.16, p < 0.001), while insufficiency was no longer significant (p = 0.310).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with DN and a significant association with DN in T2DM. Causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional design, and reverse causality and residual confounding cannot be excluded. Patients with DN had poorer glycemic control, dyslipidemia, and renal function. Routine vitamin D assessment may support early identification and risk stratification of DN.
METHODS: A total of 399 participants (299 DN, 100 T2DM without DN) were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data, including serum 25(OH)D, were collected. Group differences were tested using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests, and multinomial logistic regression assessed the association between vitamin D status and DN (p<0.05) using STATA.
RESULTS: Patients with DN were older (58.2 ± 7.95 vs. 51.4 ± 9.94 years, p < 0.001), had more advanced CKD (stages 2-3b: 84.6% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.001), and higher albuminuria (moderate/severe: 98.7% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.001). DN patients also had poorer glycemic control, higher urea, creatinine, liver enzymes, and uric acid, lower serum albumin, and dyslipidemia (all p < 0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was more common in DN (37.7% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001). Unadjusted analyses showed that T2DM without nephropathy had markedly lower risks of vitamin D deficiency (RRR 0.09; 95% CI 0.04-0.19) and insufficiency (RRR 0.13; 95% CI 0.05-0.26; both p < 0.001). After adjustment, the association with deficiency remained significant (RRR 0.04; 95% CI 0.01-0.16, p < 0.001), while insufficiency was no longer significant (p = 0.310).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with DN and a significant association with DN in T2DM. Causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional design, and reverse causality and residual confounding cannot be excluded. Patients with DN had poorer glycemic control, dyslipidemia, and renal function. Routine vitamin D assessment may support early identification and risk stratification of DN.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH95
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), SDC: Urinary/Kidney Disorders