Trends in the incidence of testing for vitamin D deficiency in primary care in the UK: a retrospective analysis of The Health Improvement Network (THIN), 2005–2015

What is it about?

There have been reports that rates of testing for vitamin D deficiency in primary care in the UK have increased over the past decade but this is based on small studies which have been restricted to certain parts of the UK, and incidence rates of testing have not been examined before in adults. Certain subgroups of the population (that is, ethnic minorities) may have a higher incidence of testing but this has not been examined before. Results from this analysis show a 50-fold increase in the incidence of testing for vitamin D deficiency from 2005 to 2015 in the UK, despite clinic guidance issued in 2013 stating that patients should not be routinely tested for vitamin D deficiency. Incidence rates were higher for women, older patients, patients with non-white ethnicity and patients who were more economically deprived.

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