title: Association Between Serum 25(OH)D Level and Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain in Acute Rehabilitation Unit Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonspecific musculoskeletal pain can be difficult to manage in acute rehabilitation unit (ARU) patients. We investigated whether vitamin D status is a potential modifiable risk factor for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in ARU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study focused on 414 adults from an inpatient ARU in Mission Viejo, California, between July 2011 and June 2012. On ARU admission, all patients had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels measured and were assessed for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. We performed multivariable logistic regression to test the association of serum 25(OH)D level with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain while adjusting for clinically relevant covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among these 414 patients, mean (SD) 25(OH)D level was 29 (12) ng/mL, and 30% had nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. After adjustment for age, sex, race, body mass index, Functional Independence Measure score, Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index, fractures, steroid use, history of osteoporosis/osteomalacia, and patient type (orthopedic, cardiac, neurological, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury), serum 25(OH)D level was inversely associated with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (odds ratio [OR] per 10 ng/mL, 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-0.82). When 25(OH)D level was dichotomized, patients with levels <20 ng/mL had higher odds of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.23-4.17) compared with patients with levels ≥20 ng/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In adult patients, serum 25(OH)D level on admission to ARU was inversely associated with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. These data support the need for randomized, controlled trials to test the role of vitamin D supplementation to improve nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in ARU patients.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Care Services, Mission Hospital, St Joseph Health, Mission Viejo, California.
authors.forename: Debbie L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Matossian-Motley
authors.affiliation: Nurse Research Scientist Consultant, Mission Hospital, St Joseph Health, Mission Viejo, California.
authors.forename: Diane A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Mission Hospital, St Joseph Health, Mission Viejo, California.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Samimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts squraishi@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Sadeq A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quraishi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000097:blood*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: acute rehabilitation; musculoskeletal; pain; vitamin D