A study of co-relation of Vitamin D levels and comorbidities in children with sickle cell disease

The national prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (<20 mg/dl) in all children is 14%.Children with sickle cell disease are 53 times more likely to develop Vitamin D deficiency than healthy children.It is estimated that 65% of children with sickle cell disease had severe Vitamin D deficiency possibly due to increased skin pigmentation and reduced exposure to sunlight.we tested the hypothesis that low levels of Vitamin D would be associated wit co-morbidities in sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by chronic hemolysis,vaso-occlusive crisis and organ damage. Recent studies suggest that there is high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency due to chronic inflammation,renal impairment,poor nutrition.Vitamin D plays a vital role in immune modulation and bone healthits deficiency may exacerbate complication in sickle cell disease. This study aims to understand this co-relation could guide preventive and therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcome.