SERUM VITAMIN D LEVELS AMONG PATIENTS WITH RENAL FAILURE COMPARED TO HEALTHY CONTROLS IN GEZIRA STATE, SUDAN
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a frequent metabolic disturbance in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to mineral-bone disorder, cardiovascular risk, and poor disease outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations among patients with renal failure compared with healthy controls in Gezira State, Sudan. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional case–control study was conducted at Gezira Hospital for Renal Diseases and Surgery, Wad Medani, Sudan, from December 2024 to October 2025. The study included 70 patients diagnosed with renal failure and 73 apparently healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum 25(OH)D concentrations using a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and comparisons between groups were performed using the independent-samples t-test and chi-square test, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean serum vitamin D level among renal failure patients was significantly lower (9.7 ± 5.9 ng/mL) compared to controls (23.0 ± 7.3 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Most patients were older than 50 years (52.9%) and predominantly male (55.7%). Vitamin D deficiency was observed across all demographic and clinical subgroups of renal failure patients, with no significant variation by age, gender, residence, marital status, education level, duration of renal failure, or comorbidities (p > 0.05 for all). Although those taking vitamin D supplements exhibited slightly higher mean levels (11.12 ± 7.59 ng/mL) than non-supplemented patients (9.61 ± 5.84 ng/mL), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.587). Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels were markedly reduced in patients with renal failure compared with healthy individuals, irrespective of demographic or clinical factors. These findings highlight the importance of routine assessment and supplementation of vitamin D as part of the comprehensive management of renal failure in Sudanese patients.