Abstract

VALERO CHAVEZ, Francisco Javier; LUENGO PEREZ, Luis Miguel  and  CUBERO JUANEZ, Javier. An adequacy of laboratory requests of vitamin D levels. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2016, vol.33, n.5, pp.1159-1163. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.581.

Introduction: Regarding the new implications assigned to vitamin D and its association with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart and autoimmune diseases and mortality, it isn't surprising that the measurements of the levels of vitamin D in general population had been defended. Nevertheless, there aren't any experimental data which show the viability and rentability of the screening strategy in population, and there is a lack of benefits for health. That's why, currently, it is only advisable the measurement of 25 (OH) vitamin D in groups of people at high risk as international clinical guides indicate. Objectives: Analyse vitamin D petitions confirming if they adequate to clinical guides. Methods: We carried out a descriptive study in the health area of Badajoz (Spain) studying the petitions for vitamin D analysis for 12 consecutive months (n = 3,907), in which we checked the diagnosis requested and the medical records of the patient to select between petitions that fit in the clinical guides, and those unjustified. Lastly, we also carried out an economical study. Results: In our results we found that almost a third of the petitions didn't fit the clinical guides, in pathologies like diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension where the measurement of the vitamin D levels is not recommended, so this would mean an enormous expense for public health. This cost it is growing every year, so it has been an increase in requests over 1,000% in the last 6 years. Conclusions: We conclude with the idea of creating vitamin D petition protocols which fit the clinical guides until more experimental studies about the new implications on vitamin D are published, and finally achieve a correct use of the economical resources of the hospital.

Keywords : Vitamin D; Adaptation; Economical expense; Petition protocol; Clinical guides.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )