Author(s)

Pranab Kumar Chowdhury¹, Pradip Kumar Dutta^2*, Arup Kumar Dutta³, Aditi Chowdhury⁴, Janardan Mahanta⁵, Pujanjoli Chowdhury⁶

¹Department of Paediatrics, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
²Department of Research Division, Marine City Medical College, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
³Department of Paediatrics, BGC Trust Medical College, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
⁴Sheik Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁵Department of Statistics, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
⁶Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: Hypovitaminosis D (serum concentration of 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml) has been observed in temperate to tropical zones throughout world. Aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D among children in South-East region of Bangladesh and also explore its association with socio-demographic profile, weight, feeding pattern, residence, seasonal variation, degree of sun exposure, education type and schooling pattern. Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study having conducted at a paediatric clinic in Chittagong Metropolitan City from July, 2012 to December, 2017 including 524 children of 0 - 18 years by convenient sampling. The relevant data were assessed using standard case record form and lab parameter of 25(OH)D assay. Serum level of 25(OH)D of <20 ng/ml was taken as Hypovitaminosis D. Anaemia was defined as Hb level less than 11 gm%. Results: The prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D was 50.57%. Compared with the infancy age group the odds of Hypovitaminosis D is 1.36 times more likely in >5 yrs children. The odds of association (odds ratio or OR = 0.19) of rural population with Hypovitaminosis D is lower than urban population. The formula fed children had less chance of association (OR = 0.32) of developing hypovitaminosis D in comparison to exclusively breastfed babies. Occasional Sun exposed group was 1.40 times more likely to develop hypovitaminosis D in comparison to daily sun exposure group. The odds of Hypovitaminosis D were 1.9 times more in winter season than summer season. School going children had double the chance of Hypovitaminosis D than children with no education. Subjects with high weight for age were 3.65 times increased risk of suffering from hypovitaminosis D compared with normal weight for age. Girls had a little bit more chance of hypovitaminosis D than boys. Children coming from family with monthly Income > 10,000 BDT are associated with more Hypovitaminosis D. Among clinical variables only wheeze has significant association (OR = 1.83). Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/ml) prevails significantly among Infants and children of South-East region of Bangladesh. Age, area of residence, feeding pattern, sun exposure practice, seasons, schooling pattern, weight for age have strong association with Hypovitaminosis D.

Hypovitaminosis D, Children, Bangladesh

Chowdhury, P. , Dutta, P. , Dutta, A. , Chowdhury, A. , Mahanta, J. and Chowdhury, P. (2022) Risk Factors Predicting Hypovitaminosis D in Children in South-East Region of Bangladesh. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 10, 44-55. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2022.103006.