Vitamin B 12 Deficiency  Among Depressive Patients Presenting  in Tertiary Care  Hospital of Karachi

Authors

  • Saman Ijaz Department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
  • Shahzad Rauf Department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
  • Usama Bin Zubair epartment of Psychiatry, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan
  • Fariha Iqbal Department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
  • Waleed Iqbal Department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan
  • Zeeshan Nasir Department of Anesthesia, Pakistan Navy Station Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i1.11041

Keywords:

Depression, Hamilton Rating Score, Vitamin B 12 deficiency.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of deficiency of levels of vitamin B12 among depressed patients presenting in tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Naval Ship Shifa Hospital, Karachi Pakistan, from Jun to Dec 2022.

Methodology: The clinically diagnosed depressed patients aged 18 to 90 years after ERC approval were included. The inclusion criteria was clinical depressive symptoms, single and multiple episodes, and scoring of more than 10 on the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D). After consent, a blood sample was sent for serum vitamin B12 levels. Levels less than 200 pg/ml were considered as deficient.

Result: The mean age for the study population was 46.82±15.64 years. 39(19.5%) of the patients were aged more than 55 years. The majority, 112(56%), were females; 121(60.5%) had no known psychiatric co-morbid; 115(57.5%) had no known medical co-morbid; 128(64%) had vitamin B12 deficiency; 128(64%) were diagnosed one year or more and 111(55.5%) were on oral vitamin B12 supplements. 67(33.5%) had serum vitamin B12 deficiency. 128(64%) were currently depressed; 130(65%) had HAM scores greater than 10.

Conclusion: Our study has shown high vitamin B12 deficiency in depressive patients. It was shown to be significantly associated with female gender, age >30 years, co-existing psychiatric illness, disease duration greater than 1 year, Hamilton Rating Score >10, and multiple episodes.

 

 

 

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Published

28-02-2025

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Original Articles

How to Cite

1.
Ijaz S, Rauf S, Zubair UB, Iqbal F, Iqbal W, Nasir Z. Vitamin B 12 Deficiency  Among Depressive Patients Presenting  in Tertiary Care  Hospital of Karachi. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 28 [cited 2025 Mar. 28];75(1):99-102. Available from: https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/11041