VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AMONG SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA

A SINGLE-CENTRE STUDY

Authors

  • WN Cheah Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Doris SC Lau Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • MN Mat Bah Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • H Alias Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.036.S22

Keywords:

vitamin d, childhood

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Vitamin D plays a vital role in bone mineralization, and in reducing the risk of developing coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes as well as cancer. As survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) have a higher risk of developing chronic health problems, maintaining a normal vitamin D level is of utmost importance.

METHODOLOGY
This single-centre, cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among survivors of childhood ALL at a tertiary paediatric oncology centre and examine possible contributory risk factors. Ninety-eight survivors (44 males and 54 females) were recruited over a 19-month period. Validated questionnaires were used to determine sun exposure and physical activity level. Serum vitamin D level was measured, with 25(OH)D ≤50 nmol/L considered as vitamin D deficiency.

RESULTS
Median age at diagnosis was 4.96 years [interquartile range (IQR): 25th 2.89; 75th 6.53) while median age at study entry was 14.88 years (IQR: 25th 10.6; 75th 21.0). Majority of them were diagnosed with standard risk B-ALL. Fifty survivors (51%) had vitamin D deficiency. Using bivariate logistic regression, three factors were identified as a significant independent risk factor (p<0.05) for having vitamin D deficiency: female gender [odds ratio (OR) 7.059, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.077 to 23.986), attained puberty (OR 5.561, 95% CI: 1.728 to 17.898) and wearing long sleeves (OR 4.194, 95% CI: 1.011 to 17.391). Treatment-related factors (corticosteroid use and radiotherapy) were not found to influence vitamin D status in this study.

CONCLUSION
Half of the survivors of childhood ALL in this study had vitamin D deficiency. Targeted screening and supplementation would be beneficial to ensure optimal vitamin D status and reduce their risk of long-term morbidities

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Author Biographies

WN Cheah, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Department of Paediatrics

Doris SC Lau, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Department of Paediatrics

MN Mat Bah, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Department of Paediatrics

H Alias, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Department of Paediatrics

 

References

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Published

2021-07-28

How to Cite

Cheah, W. ., Lau, D. S. ., Bah, M. M. ., & Alias, . H. . (2021). VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AMONG SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA: A SINGLE-CENTRE STUDY. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies, 36, 22. https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.036.S22

Issue

Section

Abstracts for Oral Presentation | Paediatrics