title: Factors associated with vitamin D status of low-income, hospitalized psychiatric patients: results of a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence has indicated a potential role of vitamin D3 in a range of neuropsychiatric outcomes, as well as on cognitive function, but conflicting data have left that role uncertain. Understanding potential associations of vitamin D status with psychiatric illness will allow clinicians to better assess therapeutic options. Few studies have examined vitamin D status among a racially diverse group of psychiatric patients who have been hospitalized, and none has done so in the southern US where socioeconomic inequality is high.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, medical records from 113 patients hospitalized for psychiatric illness were retrieved and analyzed. Vitamin D status in this population was estimated, along with any patterns of association between deficiency and risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vast majority of patients hospitalized for psychiatric illness in this biracial, low-income sample had either insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels. African-American patients had lower levels of vitamin D than Caucasian patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that hospitalized psychiatric patients are at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency and in particular low-income, African-American populations. These results suggest that vitamin D should be assessed and therapy considered at the initiation of psychiatric hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University.
authors.forename: Alessandra N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bazzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Littrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roi
keywords: cognitive function; neuropsychological function; psychiatric diagnosis; vitamin D