Status of vitamin D and factors associated with older institutionalized Natal/RN.
Vitamin D; Elderly; Nursing home.
The present study aims to evaluate the vitamin D status and associated factors in elderly living in nursing homes (NH) in Natal/RN. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 153 elderly residents in nine NH in Natal/RN, between 2012 and 2015. The theoretical model was constructed according to the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) to evaluate associations, choosing as dependent variable the serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D] levels and as independent variables: type of ILPI, institutionalization time and schooling (distal layers), age, sex, skin color, body mass index, calf and abdominal circumference, physical activity, mobility, dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium, use of vitamin D supplementation, use of antiepileptics (proximal layers); and season (transverse layer). 25 (OH) D levels in serum was determined by chemiluminescence, being the elderly individuals diagnosed as "insufficient" when values were below 30ng/mL. Food consumption data were obtained by the food registry method for direct weighing of food. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to ascertain the associations between variables. Among the elderly individuals, 71.2% showed vitamin D insufficiency. The mean age of the participants was 81.7 (9.2) years, with a predominance of females (78.4%). The majority of the elderly lived in NH (68%) and 54.7% of the elderly individuals were white. A high dietary inadequacy of vitamin D and calcium was observed, 98% and 77.8%, respectively; and 71.2% of the population had vitamin D insufficiency (24,5ng/mL; CI: 3,10 - 28,96), emphasizing that the 25(OH)D evaluation occurred predominantly in the summer season. There were no associations to SDH and the possible consequences of disability established. Among other characteristics, 70.2% did not practice physical activity, 86.9% had some degree of mobility and 66.7% had severe cognitive impairment. The institutionalized elderly population presented high vitamin D insufficiency, which was not associated with SDH. Elderly individuals health care should focus on modifiable risk factors related to vitamin D status and other conditions of aging.