{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T17:53:44Z","timestamp":1777312424210,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":70,"publisher":"Hamad bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press)","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025]]},"abstract":"\n Background:<\/jats:bold>\n Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly recognized as a significant public health issue, with far-reaching effects on bone health and overall well-being, especially among children and adolescents.\n <\/jats:p>\n \n Aim\/Objectives:<\/jats:bold>\n This cross-sectional, record-based study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in individuals under 18 years old who attended Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centers in Qatar between 2018 and 2019.\n <\/jats:p>\n \n Methodology:<\/jats:bold>\n Data were extracted from 48,947 electronic medical records, each containing at least one valid serum vitamin D test result. Severe deficiency was defined as serum vitamin D levels <10 ng\/ml. Participants undergoing vitamin D therapy were excluded from the prevalence analysis.\n <\/jats:p>\n \n Results:<\/jats:bold>\n Findings revealed that infants (under 1 year) and children aged 1\u20134 years had the lowest rates of severe deficiency at 3.8% and 3.4% respectively. The prevalence increased with age, reaching 40% among adolescents (10\u201317 years). Females had significantly higher rates of severe deficiency (30.4%) compared to males (15.3%).\n <\/jats:p>\n Multivariate logistic regression identified age, sex, and nationality as significant predictors. Adolescents were 17 times more likely to have a severe deficiency compared to children under 5 years. Females had a 2.4-fold increased risk, and individuals from Southern Asia had a 5.7-fold higher risk compared to other nationalities.<\/jats:p>\n \n Conclusion:<\/jats:bold>\n This study highlights a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescents in Qatar, particularly among females and certain ethnic groups. To address this emerging health issue in the pediatric population, targeted interventions, such as awareness campaigns, supplementation programs, and policy-level strategies, are essential.\n <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5339\/qmj.2025.112","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,11]],"date-time":"2025-12-11T05:30:24Z","timestamp":1765431024000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence and selected predictors of vitamin D deficiency among children and adolescents attending primary health care centers: A cross-sectional record-based study, Qatar"],"prefix":"10.5339","volume":"2025","author":[{"given":"Hanan","family":"Khudadad","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Department, Directorate of Clinical Affairs, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar*Correspondance: Shajitha Thekke Veettil sveettil@phcc.gov.qa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ahmed","family":"Alnuaimi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Department, Directorate of Clinical Affairs, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar*Correspondance: Shajitha Thekke Veettil sveettil@phcc.gov.qa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6322-4808","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Shajitha Thekke","family":"Veettil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Department, Directorate of Clinical Affairs, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar*Correspondance: Shajitha Thekke Veettil sveettil@phcc.gov.qa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Abduljaleel Abdullatif","family":"Zainel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Department, Directorate of Clinical Affairs, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar*Correspondance: Shajitha Thekke Veettil sveettil@phcc.gov.qa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"3277","reference":[{"key":"B1","article-title":"Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D","author":"Del Valle\n \nHB","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B2","series-title":"Sci Rep","first-page":"11489","article-title":"Ultraviolet B light emitting diodes (LEDs) are more efficient and effective in producing vitamin D3 in human skin compared to natural sunlight","volume":"7","author":"Kalajian\n \nTA","year":"2017"},{"key":"B3","series-title":"Front Immunol","first-page":"574967","article-title":"Immunomodulatory function of vitamin D and its role in autoimmune thyroid disease","volume":"12","author":"Zhao\n \nR","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"B4","series-title":"J Investig Med","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Vitamin D and the immune system","volume":"59","author":"Aranow\n \nC","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"B5","series-title":"J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"A review on vitamin d deficiency treatment in pediatric patients","volume":"18","author":"Lee\n \nJY","year":"2013"},{"issue":"Pt A:","key":"B6","series-title":"J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol","first-page":"138\u201345","article-title":"Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem?","volume":"144","author":"Palacios\n \nC","year":"2013"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B7","series-title":"World J Clin Pediatr","first-page":"1\u20139","article-title":"Vitamin D deficiency\/insufficiency from childhood to adulthood: insights from a sunny country","volume":"6","author":"Haimi\n \nM","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B8","series-title":"Acta Derm Venereol","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Factors influencing vitamin D status","volume":"91","author":"Tsiaras\n \nW","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B9","series-title":"Rev Endocr Metab Disord","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention","volume":"18","author":"Holick\n \nMF","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B10","series-title":"Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Understanding the burden of atopic dermatitis in Africa and the Middle East","volume":"9","author":"Al-Afif\n \nKAM","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B11","series-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know","volume":"96","author":"Ross\n \nAC","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(7):","key":"B12","series-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline","volume":"96","author":"Holick\n \nMF","year":"2011"},{"key":"B13","series-title":"Qatar","article-title":"Clinical practice guidelines for the management of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescence","author":"Primary Health Care Corporation","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(8):","key":"B14","series-title":"BMJ Open","first-page":"e029334","article-title":"Vitamin D status among adults (18-65 years old) attending primary healthcare centres in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the Electronic Medical Records for the year 2017","volume":"9","author":"Zainel\n \nAAL","year":"2019"},{"key":"B15","article-title":"WHO Child Growth Standards: Length\/Height-for-Age, Weight-for-Age, Weight-for-Length, Weight-for-Height and Body Mass Index-for-Age: Methods and Development","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2006"},{"key":"B16","article-title":"WHO Anthro for Personal Computers, Version 3.2.2: Software for Assessing Growth and Development of the World\u2019s Children","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"B17","series-title":"Behav Res Methods","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses","volume":"41","author":"Faul\n \nF","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B18","series-title":"J Public Health Res","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Qatar: a systematic review","volume":"1","author":"Badawi\n \nA","year":"2012"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"B19","series-title":"Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents","volume":"158","author":"Gordon\n \nCM","year":"2004"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B20","series-title":"Am J Clin Nutr","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Vitamin D and bone mineral density status of healthy schoolchildren in northern India","volume":"82","author":"Marwaha\n \nRK","year":"2005"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B21","series-title":"Pediatrics","first-page":"e362\u201370","article-title":"Prevalence and associations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in US children: NHANES 2001-2004","volume":"124","author":"Kumar\n \nJ","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B22","series-title":"BMC Public Health","first-page":"845","article-title":"Implications of standardization of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data for the evaluation of vitamin D status in Germany, including a temporal analysis","volume":"18","author":"Rabenberg\n \nM","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B23","series-title":"Osteoporos Int","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing","volume":"20","author":"Foo\n \nLH","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B24","series-title":"JAMA Pediatr","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Modifiable determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in 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Metab","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Vitamin D status in Jordan: dress style and gender discrepancies","volume":"58","author":"Batieha\n \nA","year":"2011;"},{"issue":"(12):","key":"B33","series-title":"BMJ Open","first-page":"e061442","article-title":"Micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia associated with body mass index in Australian adults: a cross-sectional study","volume":"12","author":"Canaan Negash\n \nS","year":"2022"},{"key":"B34","series-title":"Clinical Practice Guidelines System - Power Apps","article-title":"Code CLA-G48V03.0. Date issued 23\/08\/2016. Date Reviewed 03\/03\/2024. Next revision 03\/03\/2027","author":"Clinical Practice Guideline for the Recognition and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B35","series-title":"Qatar Med J","first-page":"29","article-title":"Effectiveness of vitamin D2 compared with vitamin D3 replacement therapy in a primary healthcare setting: a retrospective cohort study","volume":"2022","author":"Alayed Albarri\n \nEM","year":"2022"},{"key":"B1","article-title":"Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D","author":"Del Valle\n \nHB","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B2","series-title":"Sci Rep","first-page":"11489","article-title":"Ultraviolet B light emitting diodes (LEDs) are more efficient and effective in producing vitamin D3 in human skin compared to natural sunlight","volume":"7","author":"Kalajian\n \nTA","year":"2017"},{"key":"B3","series-title":"Front Immunol","first-page":"574967","article-title":"Immunomodulatory function of vitamin D and its role in autoimmune thyroid disease","volume":"12","author":"Zhao\n \nR","year":"2021"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"B4","series-title":"J Investig Med","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Vitamin D and the immune system","volume":"59","author":"Aranow\n \nC","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"B5","series-title":"J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"A review on vitamin d deficiency treatment in pediatric patients","volume":"18","author":"Lee\n \nJY","year":"2013"},{"issue":"Pt A:","key":"B6","series-title":"J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol","first-page":"138\u201345","article-title":"Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem?","volume":"144","author":"Palacios\n \nC","year":"2013"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B7","series-title":"World J Clin Pediatr","first-page":"1\u20139","article-title":"Vitamin D deficiency\/insufficiency from childhood to adulthood: insights from a sunny country","volume":"6","author":"Haimi\n \nM","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B8","series-title":"Acta Derm Venereol","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Factors influencing vitamin D status","volume":"91","author":"Tsiaras\n \nW","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B9","series-title":"Rev Endocr Metab Disord","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"The vitamin D deficiency pandemic: approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention","volume":"18","author":"Holick\n \nMF","year":"2017"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B10","series-title":"Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Understanding the burden of atopic dermatitis in Africa and the Middle East","volume":"9","author":"Al-Afif\n \nKAM","year":"2019"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B11","series-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know","volume":"96","author":"Ross\n \nAC","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(7):","key":"B12","series-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline","volume":"96","author":"Holick\n \nMF","year":"2011"},{"key":"B13","series-title":"Qatar","article-title":"Clinical practice guidelines for the management of vitamin D deficiency in children and adolescence","author":"Primary Health Care Corporation","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(8):","key":"B14","series-title":"BMJ Open","first-page":"e029334","article-title":"Vitamin D status among adults (18-65 years old) attending primary healthcare centres in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the Electronic Medical Records for the year 2017","volume":"9","author":"Zainel\n \nAAL","year":"2019"},{"key":"B15","article-title":"WHO Child Growth Standards: Length\/Height-for-Age, Weight-for-Age, Weight-for-Length, Weight-for-Height and Body Mass Index-for-Age: Methods and Development","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2006"},{"key":"B16","article-title":"WHO Anthro for Personal Computers, Version 3.2.2: Software for Assessing Growth and Development of the World\u2019s Children","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2011"},{"issue":"(4):","key":"B17","series-title":"Behav Res Methods","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses","volume":"41","author":"Faul\n \nF","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B18","series-title":"J Public Health Res","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Qatar: a systematic review","volume":"1","author":"Badawi\n \nA","year":"2012"},{"issue":"(6):","key":"B19","series-title":"Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents","volume":"158","author":"Gordon\n \nCM","year":"2004"},{"issue":"(2):","key":"B20","series-title":"Am J Clin Nutr","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Vitamin D and bone mineral density status of healthy schoolchildren in northern India","volume":"82","author":"Marwaha\n \nRK","year":"2005"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B21","series-title":"Pediatrics","first-page":"e362\u201370","article-title":"Prevalence and associations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in US children: NHANES 2001-2004","volume":"124","author":"Kumar\n \nJ","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B22","series-title":"BMC Public Health","first-page":"845","article-title":"Implications of standardization of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data for the evaluation of vitamin D status in Germany, including a temporal analysis","volume":"18","author":"Rabenberg\n \nM","year":"2018"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B23","series-title":"Osteoporos Int","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Relationship between vitamin D status, body composition and physical exercise of adolescent girls in Beijing","volume":"20","author":"Foo\n \nLH","year":"2009"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B24","series-title":"JAMA Pediatr","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"Modifiable determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in early childhood: opportunities for prevention","volume":"167","author":"Maguire\n \nJL","year":"2013"},{"issue":"(1):","key":"B25","series-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)","first-page":"3\u20134","article-title":"The relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathormone and bone mineral density in Indian population","volume":"80","author":"Garg\n \nMK","year":"2014"},{"issue":"(11-12):","key":"B26","series-title":"J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab","first-page":"1151\u20136","article-title":"Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy children in north India","volume":"27","author":"Angurana\n \nSK","year":"2014"},{"issue":"(3):","key":"B27","series-title":"Matern Child Nutr","first-page":"e12340","article-title":"Predictors of vitamin 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Date issued 23\/08\/2016. Date Reviewed 03\/03\/2024. 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