A retrospective analysis of the prevalence and clinical outcomes of vitamin D deficiency in myeloma patients in tropical Australia

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer 2020-03, Vol.28 (3), p.1249-1254
• Main Authors: Nath, Karthik, Ganeshalingam, Vibooshini, Ewart, Barbara, Heyer, Elizabeth, Watt, Kerrianne, Birchley, Andrew, Casey, John, Lai, Hock Choong, Morris, Edward, Hodges, Georgina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alfacalcidol; Australia; Calcifediol; Care and treatment; Clinical outcomes; Female; Humans; Male; Medical colleges; Medical records; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Multiple myeloma; Multiple Myeloma - complications; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Original Article; Pain Medicine; Patient outcomes; Peripheral neuropathy; Prevalence; Rehabilitation Medicine; Retrospective Studies; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - etiology; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-04942-7

Purpose The aim of this descriptive study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients on active therapy for multiple myeloma in a tropical climate. We also tested for the association of vitamin D status on clinical outcomes. Methods This was a single centre, observational study performed in Townsville, Australia, which has a sunlight heavy, tropical climate. Patients on active therapy for multiple myeloma underwent testing of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Information on disease stage, skeletal morbidity and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were collected from medical records and self-reported patient questionnaires. Results A total of 41 patients were included. With a median disease duration of 38 months, 27% were found to be vitamin D deficient. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had a higher likelihood of peripheral neuropathy compared with their non-vitamin D counterparts (73% vs. 33%, P  = 0.03). Although those with vitamin D deficiency had more skeletal morbidity, this was not statistically significant (73% vs 50%, P  = 0.19). Reduced 25(OH) D was associated with a poor performance status ( P  = 0.003). There was no association between vitamin D status and stage of myeloma. Conclusion There is a relatively high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with myeloma in our study. This is despite a sunlight heavy, tropical climate. We report an association between vitamin D deficiency and peripheral neuropathy. Prospective interventional trials are required to further assess this.