THU0405 Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in 4,793 Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: T. Furuya, T. Hosoi, E. Tanaka, A. Nakajima, A. Taniguchi, S. Momohara, H. Yamanaka
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Background</h3> Vitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency is reported to be common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are also reported to be associated with disease activity, physical disability, and cardiometabolic intermediates in patients with RA [1-3]. There are limited reports concerning prevalence of and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in the literature on Japanese patients with RA. Previously, we utilized data from our prospective, observational study of RA in Japan (IORRA, Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis) to report clinical risk factors for fractures in Japanese patients with RA [4, 5]. <h3>Objectives</h3> To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and associations with clinical characteristics in Japanese patients with RA. <h3>Methods</h3> Serum 25(OH)D levels, laboratory data, and clinical data were obtained from 4,793 patients with RA (4,075 women, 718 men, mean age 59.7 years) who participated in the IORRA observational cohort study in April and May of 2011. Serum vitamin D levels were evaluated using a radioimmunoassay. We defined vitamin D deficiency as &lt; 20 ng/mL and severe deficiency as &lt; 10 ng/mL Associations of vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiency with patient characteristics were examined using multivariate logistic regression. <h3>Results</h3> Among all patients, the mean (SD) serum 25(OH)D level was 16.9 (6.1) ng/mL and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiency were 71.8% and 11.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, female gender, younger age, high Japanese health assessment questionnaire (J-HAQ) disability score, and low serum total cholesterol and high serum alkaline phosphate (ALP) levels were significantly associated with both vitamin D deficiency and severe deficiency (P &lt; 0.01). Low serum total protein levels and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use were significantly correlated with vitamin D deficiency (P &lt; 0.01). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Vitamin D deficiency appears to be common in Japanese patients with RA, as previously reported for patients of other ethnicities. Female gender, younger age, high HAQ disability score, low serum levels of total cholesterol and total protein, high serum ALP levels, and NSAID use appear to be associated with vitamin D deficiency in Japanese patients with RA. <h3>References</h3> Rossini M et al. Vitamin D deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis: prevalence, determinants and associations with disease activity and disability. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(6):R216; Kerr GS et al. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis and associations with disease severity and activity. J Rheumatol. 2011 Jan;38(1):53-9; Baker JF, et al. Associations between vitamin D, disease activity, and clinical response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2012 Sep-Oct;30(5):658-64; Furuya T, et al. Risk factors associated with incident clinical vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in Japanese women with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective 54-month observational study. J Rheumatol. 2007 Feb;34(2):303-10.; Furuya T et al. Risk factors associated with the occurrence of hip fracture in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective observational cohort study. Osteoporos Int, in press. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> T. Furuya: None Declared, T. Hosoi: None Declared, E. Tanaka: None Declared, A. Nakajima: None Declared, A. Taniguchi: None Declared, S. Momohara: None Declared, H. Yamanaka Grant/research support from: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Wyeth K.K., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Abbott Japan Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taishotoyama Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Speakers bureau: Abbott, Eisai Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Hoffmann-La Roche, and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.