Risk factors for suboptimal vitamin D levels among adults with HIV attending an inner-city clinic of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in populations with HIV, but there is limited data on predictors for suboptimal levels.
Methods: To determine risk factors for Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency, 185 charts were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Proportions with Vitamin D levels < 10 ng/ml, 10 - 20 ng/ml, 20 - 30 ng/ml and > 30 ng/ml were 14.6%, 44.8%, 24.9%, and 15.7%, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that Vitamin D levels < 20 ng/ml were associated with a lower albumin level (p =.02), female gender (p = .0003), and African-American (AA) race (p = .0001). Tenofovir exposure showed borderline significance (p = .09). AA race was the only significant factor in multivariate modeling.
Conclusions: Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was high. AA race was an independent risk factor. Although not significant, obese persons with a poorer nutritional status and possibly those on tenofovir may also be at higher risk.