Association between vitamin D levels and functional mobility among patients with stroke in a rehabilitation setting in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cross-sectional study
- 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Abstract
Objectives: Patients with stroke often have vitamin D (VD) deficiency. Lower VD levels are associated with poorer functional outcomes and overall mortality in patients with stroke. This study aimed to explore the correlation between functional mobility and VD levels in patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation.
Design: Retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study.
Setting: A hospital in Shenzhen, China.
Participants: From June 2019 to March 2024, 492 participants were included in this study.
Primary outcome measures: VD deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL for descriptive comparisons, and serum 25(OH)D concentration was analysed as a continuous outcome in regression models. Functional mobility was assessed using the Longshi Scale (LS) and categorised as bedridden or non-bedridden. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with VD levels.
Results: In total, 492 patients diagnosed with stroke were recruited. Patients were divided into VD deficient (n=264) and non-deficient (n=228) groups. There was no significant difference in age (p=0.174), sex (p=0.097), Body Mass Index (p=0.766) and other clinical factors, except post-stroke duration (p=0.036), stroke type (p=0.001) and season (p=0.001) between groups. In the univariate analysis, sex, history of smoking, history of drinking, stroke subtype and functional mobility were significantly associated with VD levels. In the multivariable analysis, gender, stroke subtype and functional mobility remained associated with VD levels after adjustment for the available covariates. In the subgroup analysis based on stroke subtype, functional mobility remained independently associated with VD levels in male patients with ischaemic stroke.
Conclusions: Functional mobility was independently associated with VD levels, particularly among male patients with ischaemic stroke. Screening VD levels may be considered in patients with reduced mobility, although causality remains to be clarified.
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BibTeX
@article{huang2026association,
title = {{Association between vitamin D levels and functional mobility among patients with stroke in a rehabilitation setting in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cross-sectional study}},
author = {Meiling Huang and Yucong Zou and Linlin Shan and Hongyun Weng and Yujia Wang and Mingchao Zhou and Yulong Wang},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116780},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116780},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association between vitamin D levels and functional mobility among patients with stroke in a rehabilitation setting in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cross-sectional study
AU - Meiling Huang
AU - Yucong Zou
AU - Linlin Shan
AU - Hongyun Weng
AU - Yujia Wang
AU - Mingchao Zhou
AU - Yulong Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116780
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-116780
AB - Objectives: Patients with stroke often have vitamin D (VD) deficiency. Lower VD levels are associated with poorer functional outcomes and overall mortality in patients with stroke. This study aimed to explore the correlation between functional mobility and VD levels in patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation. Design: Retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study. Setting: A hospital in Shenzhen, China. Participants: From June 2019 to March 2024, 492 participants were included in this study. Primary outcome measures: VD deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL for descriptive comparisons, and serum 25(OH)D concentration was analysed as a continuous outcome in regression models. Functional mobility was assessed using the Longshi Scale (LS) and categorised as bedridden or non-bedridden. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with VD levels. Results: In total, 492 patients diagnosed with stroke were recruited. Patients were divided into VD deficient (n=264) and non-deficient (n=228) groups. There was no significant difference in age (p=0.174), sex (p=0.097), Body Mass Index (p=0.766) and other clinical factors, except post-stroke duration (p=0.036), stroke type (p=0.001) and season (p=0.001) between groups. In the univariate analysis, sex, history of smoking, history of drinking, stroke subtype and functional mobility were significantly associated with VD levels. In the multivariable analysis, gender, stroke subtype and functional mobility remained associated with VD levels after adjustment for the available covariates. In the subgroup analysis based on stroke subtype, functional mobility remained independently associated with VD levels in male patients with ischaemic stroke. Conclusions: Functional mobility was independently associated with VD levels, particularly among male patients with ischaemic stroke. Screening VD levels may be considered in patients with reduced mobility, although causality remains to be clarified.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -