Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Nov 2020)
Effect of Pandemic-Related Confinement on Vitamin D Status Among Children Aged 0–6 Years in Guangzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Li Yu, Hai-Jin Ke, Di Che, Shao-Lan Luo, Yong Guo, Jie-Ling Wu Department of Children’s Health Care, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jie-Ling Wu; Yong GuoDepartment of Children’s Health Care, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 20 39151521Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Pandemic-related confinement helps to contain the transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but restricts children’s exposure to sunlight, thereby possibly affecting their 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. This study aimed to examine the effect of COVID-19 measures on 25(OH)D levels in children.Patients and Methods: This study included children who underwent health checks between March 1 and June 30, 2020, and those over the equivalent period during 2017– 2019 (N = 3600). Children’s 25(OH)D levels and the proportion of children with vitamin D deficiency were compared between different observation periods.Results: The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 84 ± 25nmol/L. The overall proportion of children with vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D level < 50 nmol/L) was 4.6%. Home confinement led to an increase in the proportion of children aged 3– 6 years with vitamin D deficiency during March 1–June 30, 2020 compared with the same months in previous years, and the most noticeable increase was found in March 2020. In children aged 3– 6 years, 25(OH)D levels were lower in 2020 (65 ± 17nmol/L) than during 2017– 2019, and the proportion of those with vitamin D deficiency was higher in 2020 (19.0%) than in previous years. Among children aged 0.5– 1 and 1– 3 years, 25(OH)D levels were higher (97 ± 25 nmol/L, 91 ± 27 nmol/L), while the proportion of children with vitamin D deficiency was lower in 2020 (2.3%, 3.0%) than during 2017– 2019.Conclusion: The 25(OH)D levels tended to decrease gradually with increasing age. Reduced sunlight exposure during confinement is associated with lower 25(OH)D levels among children aged 3– 6 years. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation for children aged > 3 years is recommended.Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D, coronavirus disease, deficiency, sunlight exposure
