Background Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has frequently been associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, evidence from southern India is limited, and the extent to which these associations reflect disease severity rather than a direct effect of vitamin D remains uncertain. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency across different stages of CKD and to examine its association with HRQoL domains in a multicenter cohort from Telangana, India. Methods This multicenter cross-sectional study included 652 adults with CKD stages 2–5 recruited from tertiary care institutions in Telangana. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, renal parameters, and anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized procedures. HRQoL was assessed using the validated Short Form-36 questionnaire. Group comparisons were performed using appropriate non-parametric tests based on data distribution, and associations between vitamin D levels and HRQoL domains were evaluated using correlation analyses. Results Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and more frequent in advanced CKD stages. HRQoL scores declined progressively with increasing disease severity, and patients with lower vitamin D levels consistently reported poorer scores across all Short Form-36 domains. Higher body mass index was associated with additional reductions in physical functioning, vitality, and general health. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations showed moderate positive correlations with physical functioning (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), general health (r = 0.51, p < 0.001), vitality (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and emotional well-being (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Conclusions Lower vitamin D levels were associated with poorer health-related quality of life among patients with CKD, particularly in advanced stages of disease and among individuals with higher body mass index. Given the cross-sectional design and the potential for confounding by disease severity, these findings should be interpreted as non-causal associations. Vitamin D status may serve as a marker of overall health burden in CKD, highlighting the need for longitudinal and interventional studies to clarify its clinical significance.

Vitamin D Deficiency and its Clinical Impact on Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease: a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study From Telangana

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发表日期：

2026年4月23日

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Baba Shankar Rao Garige,
Mani Santhosh Nikhil Soma

摘要

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has frequently been associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, evidence from southern India is limited, and the extent to which these associations reflect disease severity rather than a direct effect of vitamin D remains uncertain.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency across different stages of CKD and to examine its association with HRQoL domains in a multicenter cohort from Telangana, India.

Methods

This multicenter cross-sectional study included 652 adults with CKD stages 2–5 recruited from tertiary care institutions in Telangana. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, renal parameters, and anthropometric measurements were obtained using standardized procedures. HRQoL was assessed using the validated Short Form-36 questionnaire. Group comparisons were performed using appropriate non-parametric tests based on data distribution, and associations between vitamin D levels and HRQoL domains were evaluated using correlation analyses.

Results

Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and more frequent in advanced CKD stages. HRQoL scores declined progressively with increasing disease severity, and patients with lower vitamin D levels consistently reported poorer scores across all Short Form-36 domains. Higher body mass index was associated with additional reductions in physical functioning, vitality, and general health. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations showed moderate positive correlations with physical functioning (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), general health (r = 0.51, p < 0.001), vitality (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and emotional well-being (r = 0.44, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Lower vitamin D levels were associated with poorer health-related quality of life among patients with CKD, particularly in advanced stages of disease and among individuals with higher body mass index. Given the cross-sectional design and the potential for confounding by disease severity, these findings should be interpreted as non-causal associations. Vitamin D status may serve as a marker of overall health burden in CKD, highlighting the need for longitudinal and interventional studies to clarify its clinical significance.