¿Existe déficit de vitamina D en los niños de una ciudad soleada del Mediterráneo? / Is there vitamin D deficiency in children in a sunny Mediterranean city?

INTRODUCCIÓN: A pesar del creciente interés por las funciones de la vitamina D, siguen documentándose casos deficitarios en regiones soleadas donde se presuponen niveles adecuados. El objetivo del estudio es determinar los niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D en menores de 2 años ingresados en un hospital terciario de Valencia por enfermedades agudas leves y su relación con factores que puedan estar asociados con su deficiencia. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo y descriptivo de un año de duración en niños, entre uno y 24 meses, ingresados por enfermedades agudas leves. Se han estudiado los niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D, junto con una anamnesis y exploración clínica estructuradas. Se dividió la muestra en 2 grupos, dependiendo de los niveles de vitamina D (punto de corte 30ng/ml). RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 169 niños, edad media de 9 meses, predominio etnia caucásica (75,7%) y menores de un año (79,3%). El 24,3% de los niños presentaba valores <30ng/ml, agrupándose en invierno/primavera y caracterizándose por fototipos cutáneos oscuros (p < 0,01). Los factores asociados con niveles >30ng/ml fueron: administración de profilaxis, ser hijo de madre caucásica y que no usara hiyab. No existieron diferencias en el tipo de lactancia recibida (p = 0,65). Solamente al 47% de los menores de un año amamantados se administró profilaxis. CONCLUSIONES: En Valencia, a pesar de la radiación solar suficiente, un cuarto de los niños <2 años tiene niveles de 25-hidroxivitamina D <30ng/ml. Nuestros resultados deberían sensibilizar sobre la importancia de la suplementación vitamínica durante el primer año de vida, incluso en las regiones soleadas del Mediterráneo

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increasing interest in vitamin D functions, new cases of deficiency have been reported in sunny regions where optimal levels are expected. The aim of this study was to analyze 25-hydroxivitamin D levels in children younger than 2 years admitted for acute mild diseases in a tertiary hospital in Valencia and its relationship with factors that can be associated with its deficiency. METHODS: This one year prospective and observational study was conducted on 169 children admitted for acute mild diseases. 25-hydroxivitamin D levels were analyzed. A standardized physical examination and structured interviews to the parents were performed. Children were classified into two groups, according to 25-hydroxivitamin D levels (cut-off 30ng/mL). RESULTS: A total of 169 children were included, with a median age of 9 months, being more prevalent Caucasians (75.7%) and youger than one year old (79.3%). Almost one quarter (24.3%) of the children had 25-hydroxivitamin D levels <30ng/mL, more frequently in winter/spring, and in children with higher skin phototypes (P<.01). Levels >30ng/mL were associated with vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year, in children of a Caucasian mother, and those who did not wear a hijab. No statistical differences were found in diet characteristics (P=.65). Prophylaxis was given to 47% of the breastfed children younger than one year. CONCLUSIONS: In Valencia, Spain, 25-hydroxivitamin D levels lower than 30ng/mL were found in a quarter of the children younger than two years. Our results emphasize the importance of vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year of life, even in sunny Mediterranean regions

[Is there vitamin D deficiency in children in a sunny Mediterranean city?]. / ¿Existe déficit de vitamina D en los niños de una ciudad soleada del Mediterráneo?

INTRODUCTION: Despite the increasing interest in vitamin D functions, new cases of deficiency have been reported in sunny regions where optimal levels are expected. The aim of this study was to analyze 25-hydroxivitamin D levels in children younger than 2 years admitted for acute mild diseases in a tertiary hospital in Valencia and its relationship with factors that can be associated with its deficiency. METHODS: This one year prospective and observational study was conducted on 169 children admitted for acute mild diseases. 25-hydroxivitamin D levels were analyzed. A standardized physical examination and structured interviews to the parents were performed. Children were classified into two groups, according to 25-hydroxivitamin D levels (cut-off 30 ng/mL). RESULTS: A total of 169 children were included, with a median age of 9 months, being more prevalent Caucasians (75.7%) and youger than one year old (79.3%). Almost one quarter (24.3%) of the children had 25-hydroxivitamin D levels <30 ng/mL, more frequently in winter/spring, and in children with higher skin phototypes (P<.01). Levels >30 ng/mL were associated with vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year, in children of a Caucasian mother, and those who did not wear a hijab. No statistical differences were found in diet characteristics (P=.65). Prophylaxis was given to 47% of the breastfed children younger than one year. CONCLUSIONS: In Valencia, Spain, 25-hydroxivitamin D levels lower than 30 ng/mL were found in a quarter of the children younger than two years. Our results emphasize the importance of vitamin D prophylaxis during the first year of life, even in sunny Mediterranean regions.

Enquiry time as part of turnaround time: when do our clinicians really consult our results?

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, laboratories' turnaround times (TAT) have been calculated by only considering analytical or intralaboratory steps. The measure of the postanalytical impact in TAT has barely been studied and, more specifically, the running time from when finalised results are available to when clinicians make their first enquiry with an electronic medical record. METHODS: During May-June of 2013, two 'Times' were collected from our laboratory information system for all the priority requests coming from our day hospitals: 'Validation time' (TV), as the request report time with full verified results and 'Enquiry time' (TQ), as the time when the first consult was made via electronic medical record. We classified requests in groups depending on time results, and TQ-TV (percentiles) were calculated for each group. RESULTS: 654 (69%) requests were consulted by clinicians before 15 : 00 on the same day with available results. 191 (20%) were consulted after 15 : 00 and had complete results as well (p50 (TQ-TV): 5 days) while 61 (7%) were never consulted (up to 31/12/2013). 39 (4%) requests were finally consulted before 15 : 00 h with no available results, but the average time difference between validation and enquiry was 31 min. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained lead us to reconsider the TAT established with our day hospitals in order to know if priority has to be reviewed or if there are failures in follow-up results. 'Enquiry time' appears to be a powerful tool in detecting these issues and shows that TATs are no longer just a 'laboratory problem'.