Potentially inappropriate testing for vitamin D deficiency: a cross-sectional study in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is consensus that vitamin D supplementation is often indicated but population-based screening by laboratory testing for vitamin D deficiency is inadequate. Testing should be restricted to people at high risk of severe deficiency. This study describes the current lab testing for vitamin D deficiency in the adult population of Switzerland.

Methods

We assessed Swiss health insurance data (SWICA) for incidence of lab testing for vitamin D levels, comparing the years 2015 and 2018. Claims were analyzed for associations between lab testing and age, sex, medical indications, insurance status and geographic location in multivariable regression analyses. We also estimated the costs of vitamin D testing.

Results

Data from 200,043 and 200,046 persons for 2015 an

SUBMITTER: Essig S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7694269 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature