IMPACT OF CORRECTION OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY ON THE CLINICAL COURSE OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
Podsevakhina S.L., Chabanna O.S., Palamarchuk O.I.
Summary. Objective. To assess the impact of adding cholecalciferol to the comprehensive treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in patients with vitamin D deficiency on the clinical course of the disease and joint functional status. Materials and methods. The study included 62 patients aged 45–65 years with a confirmed diagnosis of KOA stage 1–2 according to the Kellgren–Lawrence radiographic classification. Patients were divided into two groups: the main group (n=32) with 25(OH)D deficiency and the control group (n=30) with optimal vitamin D levels. All patients received standard therapy with SYSADOA and NSAIDs (as needed). In addition, patients in the main group were prescribed cholecalciferol at a dose of 5600 IU/day for 12 weeks. Clinical effectiveness was evaluated using the VAS and KOOS scales over a 90-day period. Results. Analysis of the results revealed a significant improvement in the clinical condition of patients in both groups over the three-month observation period. However, the dynamics were more pronounced in the main group. All key indicators of pain and joint function improved significantly from the early stages of treatment, with clear intergroup differences observed on days 60 and 90. By day 30, the main group showed a significant reduction in pain (VAS) and improvement in functional scores (KOOS) compared to the control group. By day 90 89,6% of patients in the main group had reached optimal 25(OH)D levels. The total KOOS score in the main group increased from 43,8 to 91,1 points, significantly exceeding the control group scores (from 44,8 to 85,0 points, p<0,05). The need for NSAIDs decreased to 22,5% in the main group after the first month of therapy, compared to 35,6% in the control group. Conclusions. The addition of cholecalciferol to the comprehensive treatment of KOA in patients with vitamin D deficiency leads to more significant clinical improvement, reduced pain, improved joint function, and better quality of life. The observed effect supports the rationale for routine assessment and correction of vitamin D deficiency in the management of KOA patients.
Leave a comment