ASSOCIATION OF HYPOVITAMINOSIS D WITH PRE-TERM LABOR IN FEMALES PRESENTING FOR NORMAL DELIVERY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Pre-term delivery is defined as delivery of fetus before completed 37weeks of gestation, according to ultrasonography and last menstrual period. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D, as indicated by low levels of 25- Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], during pregnancy is considered to be a health problem of unusual significance, across the globe. Increased interest has been developed these days to find out the relationship between low vitamin D status and its outcome on pregnancy. Objective: To measure the association between hypovitaminosis D with pre-term labor in females presenting for normal delivery in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: Total 630 patients fulfilling the required criteria were taken up for study from labor ward of Lady Atchison Hospital Lahore. Informed consent was obtained & patient's demographic information recorded. Females were decided into two groups; one group for Cases and the other for Controls as mentioned in inclusion criteria. The females undergone delivery. Blood samples were drawn and were delivered to laboratory of the hospital. Reports were assessed for vit D levels. Hypovitaminosis D was labeled. Results: The age(mean) of women undergoing preterm and term delivery was 30.22±5.88 and 29.40±5.74 years. Mean levels of vitamin D in women with preterm and term delivery was 67.01±26.56 and 89.75±34.71. Among women in whom hypovitaminosis was seen 124(72.5%) women had preterm and 47(27.5%) women had term delivery. As per p-value significant association was seen statistically between hypovitaminosis and mode of delivery. Odds ratio 0f 3.70 is showing that women having hypovitaminosis they have a significantly 3.70 times more chances of preterm delivery as compared to that of women who did not have hypovitaminosis. Conclusion: Results obtained by this study show a strong association and high risk for women with hypovitaminosis D to undergo a preterm delivery. Keywords: Hypovitaminosis D, Preterm delivery, Tertiary care hospital