title: Vitamin D deficiency among patients attending a central New Zealand rheumatology outpatient clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the Vitamin D status in patients attending a rheumatology outpatient clinic because of the known musculoskeletal and immunosuppressive effects of Vitamin D deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  66 consecutive patients at a private rheumatology clinic in central New Zealand were recruited at the beginning of winter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 66 patients, 55 patients were included in the analysis. 43 (78%) had 25OH cholecalciferol levels that were below the reference range (50-150 nmol/L), and of these 12 (22%) had levels classified as moderate to severe deficiency (<25 nmol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency is common in this setting, and is likely to contribute to the musculoskeletal symptoms experienced in this population.
authors.affiliation: Capital Sports Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand. compkarori@gmail.com
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol