VITAMIN D LEVELS IN THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD IN THE ELDERLY

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 disease causing a worldwide outbreak, lockdown restrictions have been imposed in our country to protect the elderly. People provide most of their vitamin D requirement from sunlight. Because of this lockdown, the elderly are not able to benefit from sunlight sufficiently, so they face the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency contributes not only to the development of the disease of skeletal system but also to the development of many systemic diseases. For this, it is necessary to avoid vitamin D deficiency. The aim of our study was to investigate vitamin D levels in the elderly in the lockdown period.

In our study, serum vitamin D, vitamin B12 and magnesium levels and routine laboratory findings of the elderly people aged 65 and over who admitted to our hospital due to various diseases during the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated. Of the 39 patients included in the study, 24 were men and 15 were women. The ages of the patients ranged from 65 to 94 years, and the mean age was 71.9 ± 6.2 years.

Vitamin D levels of the patients ranged from 4.67 ng/ml to 28.2 ng/ml, and the average vitamin D value was 13.15 ± 6.09 ng/ml. Thirty four of the patients had vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D levels were insufficient in five male patients. Vitamin D levels were not normal in any patient. Vitamin D levels in women ranged from 4.67 ng/ml to 18.9 ng/ml, and the average was 10.71 ± 4.66 ng/ml. In men, vitamin D levels ranged from 6.62 ng/ml to 28.20 ng/ml and the average was 14.74 ± 6.46 ng /ml. Average vitamin D levels in women were significantly lower than men (p <0.05).

In our study, vitamin D deficiency was found to be prevalent in the elderly during the lockdown period. In addition to protective measures such as wearing a face mask, paying attention to hand hygiene and observing physical distance, the elderly should also avoid vitamin D deficiency. Thus, it is important for the elderly to benefit from the sun by doing sports and swimming in sunny weather, provided that the precautions are followed.