Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Musculoskeletal Pain Severity Among Female Office Workers in Islamabad

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is a frequent occupational health concern among office workers, particularly women engaged in prolonged sedentary work. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in South Asian populations and has been implicated in musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. However, evidence exploring this association from an occupational health perspective in Pakistani female office workers remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between vitamin D deficiency and musculoskeletal pain severity among female office workers in Islamabad.

METHODOLOGY: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 female office workers recruited from public and private sector workplaces in Islamabad between March and October 2022. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay and categorized as deficient, insufficient, or sufficient. Musculoskeletal pain severity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Differences in pain severity across vitamin D status groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between vitamin D levels and pain severity while adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was identified in 69.6% of participants, with a mean serum level of 17.9 ± 6.8 ng/mL. The overall mean pain score was 5.9 ± 1.8. Participants with vitamin D deficiency reported significantly higher pain scores (6.8 ± 1.4) compared with those with insufficient (5.2 ± 1.3) and sufficient levels (3.6 ± 1.1) (p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between serum vitamin D levels and pain severity (r = –0.61, p < 0.001). Vitamin D level remained an independent predictor of pain severity after adjustment for confounding variables.

CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was strongly associated with increased musculoskeletal pain severity among female office workers. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating vitamin D assessment into occupational health and rehabilitation strategies for sedentary female populations.

KEY TERMS: Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal Pain; Occupational Health; Office Workers; Pain Measurement; Vitamin D Deficiency; Women