SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: ASSOCIATION WITH AGE, GENDER, BMI, SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE & BP CONTROL

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency is emerging as a significant cardiovascular risk factor, and it may influence blood pressure regulation via inflammatory, metabolic, and vascular mechanisms. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic factors that contribute to vitamin D insufficiency in the hypertensive population, as well as their interaction with age, gender, BMI, exposure to sunlight, and hypertension management.
Methods: This was hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study involving 140 hypertensive patients from Jan to December, 2025 at HMC Hospital. The participants were chosen by  consecutive sampling. Demographic data, sunlight exposure, anthropometric data and clinical characteristics were collected. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was tested, and the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the relationships between vitamin D deficiency and the measured parameters.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 68.6% of subjects, with a mean of 18.7 ± 8.5 ng/mL. Older age, female sex, high BMI, low sun exposure, and uncontrolled hypertension were significantly related to deficiency (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that low sunlight exposure, obesity, advanced age, female gender, and uncontrolled blood pressure were independent risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is very common among people with hypertension, and it is related to several demographic and lifestyle factors. Identifying high-risk persons early and correcting modifiable risk factors such as obesity and lack of sunlight exposure can help improve vitamin D status and optimize hypertension management.