Prevalence and implications of vitamin D deficiency in applicants for insurance.

OBJECTIVE

Ascertain the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in applicants for insurance and participants in health and wellness activities.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in people seeking healthcare. Deficiency of vitamin D is strongly associated with the incidence of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. All-cause mortality is elevated in people with vitamin D deficiency. Other pathologies strongly associated with sub-optimal levels of vitamin D include: falls in elderly, muscle weakness and pain, and psoriasis. A number of other disorders have a weaker association with deficiency of vitamin D.

METHODS

Identified specimens received for testing for various laboratory parameters, as part of application for insurance and from participants in health and wellness activities, were tested for vitamin D levels using Siemens ADVIA Centaur analyzer. The results were analyzed for the prevalence of: (a) low vitamin D, (b) insufficiency of vitamin D, and (c) deficiency of vitamin D.

RESULTS

Nearly 90% of the samples tested revealed levels < 30 ng/mL indicating a sub-optimal vitamin D nutritional status and susceptibility to disorders associated with vitamin D deficiency, including an increase in all-cause mortality. Samples with levels < 20 ng/mL and 12 ng/mL were 60% and 19%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings demonstrate that applicants for insurance, like the general population in the United States, have a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency. The insurance companies may wish to test all applicants and mitigate part of the risk of disease and early death by recommending/requiring readily available and inexpensive replacement therapy.