
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent inherited hematological disorder and affects 100,000 individuals in the United States. Pain is the most common cause of emergency department (ED) visits in the SCD population, which profoundly affects quality of life. Vitamin D supplementation is a potential target for reducing pain. Thus, the goal of the present study was to identify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and explore the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and ED visits in pediatric patients with SCD.We conducted a retrospective chart review of 110 patients with SCD aged 8-16 years who had at least one ED visit for SCD pain during the 6-year study period. Patients were categorized into three vitamin D supplementation groups: patients who did not receive supplementation, patients supplemented with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (< 30 ng/mL), and patients supplemented with at least one sufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (≥ 30 ng/mL).Overall, 45 % of patients were vitamin D deficient. Only 20 % of patients had sufficient vitamin D levels. This number increased to 55 % when examining only patients who did not receive vitamin D supplementation. For patients supplemented with vitamin D, the number of ED visits was significantly lower after they reached the sufficient range (≥ 30 ng/mL), p = 0.03.Our findings indicate that reductions in the number of pain-related ED visits may be achieved by normalizing 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with supplementation. In addition, findings highlight the need for screening and vitamin D supplementation being incorporated into routine care for pediatric patients with SCD.
Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives, Male, emergency department, Adolescent, vitamin D deficiency, Anemia, Sickle Cell, Prevalence, vitamin D supplementation, Humans, Pain Management, pain, Vitamin D, Child, Pain Management/methods, Retrospective Studies, Emergency Service, Anemia, Sickle Cell/drug therapy, Hospital/statistics & numerical data, Anemia, Sickle Cell/drug therapy, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency/drug therapy, Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data, Dietary Supplements, sickle cell disease, Female, Emergency Service, Hospital
Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives, Male, emergency department, Adolescent, vitamin D deficiency, Anemia, Sickle Cell, Prevalence, vitamin D supplementation, Humans, Pain Management, pain, Vitamin D, Child, Pain Management/methods, Retrospective Studies, Emergency Service, Anemia, Sickle Cell/drug therapy, Hospital/statistics & numerical data, Anemia, Sickle Cell/drug therapy, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D Deficiency/drug therapy, Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data, Dietary Supplements, sickle cell disease, Female, Emergency Service, Hospital
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 10 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
