Venous Thromboembolism is Associated with Lack of Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury and Low Vitamin D Levels

Abstract Background The role of vitamin D (VitD) in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prevalence of low VitD (LVitD) in spinal cord injury (SCI) has motivated VitD testing and supplementation. This is an exploratory study of data collected at a time before the routine clinical practice of VitD supplementation, allowing for evaluation of the natural history of LVitD levels in patients with SCI. Objective To determine if VitD supplementation in persons with SCI and LVitD levels is associated with decreased prevalence of VTE. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Rehabilitation Center at Level I Trauma Center. Participants Patients with SCI admitted to acute inpatient rehabilitation (N=282). Main Outcome Measures VTE prevalence in patients with LVitD levels, grouped by presence or absence of VitD supplementation. Results Of the acute inpatient SCI population, 80% (227/282) demonstrated VitD levels 30 ng/mL (Normal VitD, NVitD), it did not achieve statistical significance (P=.108, V=.104). When the role of VitD supplementation was analyzed, individuals in the LVitD group who received no VitD supplementation (LVitDSuppNegative) had a statistically significant higher incidence of VTE compared to the LVitD group with VitD supplementation (LVitDSuppPositive) (24% [42/178] versus 2% [1/49]) (P Conclusion A significant association appears to exist between lack of VitD supplementation and VTE occurrence in persons with acute SCI and LVitD levels.