The Effect of Perioperative Vitamin D Levels on the Functional, Patient-Related Outcome Measures and the Risk of Infection Following Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide.¹ The incidence of hypovitaminosis D is rising globally, affecting approximately one billion people.² Staying indoors for prolonged periods, wearing clothes that cover the skin, and using sunscreen are some of the primary causes of this increasing epidemic, the repercussions of which remain obscure.²

The metabolism of vitamin D is well described.³ Vitamin’s D main role is the regulation of calcium metabolism by controlling its absorption by the small intestine. It promotes bone resorption by stimulating the activity of osteoclasts.³ Vitamin D plays a determining role in muscle function through regulating the deposition of phosphorus in myocytes, in the metabolism of creatine phosphate as well as in muscle cells’ response to insulin and muscle action.⁴ As a result, the role of vitamin D in bone resistance is crucial, promoting the stimulation of bone turnover and muscle function.³

The proven interactions between Vitamin D and at least, 200 genes of the human genome reflect its complicated character and at the same time, open the way for new pathways of research.² In the recent years, the relevant literature has expanded to include discussions around the effects of the vitamin D on the health of the articular cartilage, on muscle function and the risk of falls in the elderly.^5,6 Abnormal vitamin D levels have been associated with osteomalacic myopathy, impaired muscle strength, changes in gait, and muscle pain.^3,7 Vitamin D is also known to regulate the production of the extracellular substance of chondrocytes and could thus, be potentially correlated with the pathogeny of osteoarthritis.⁸ Moreover, supplementation of vitamin D seems to improve functional ability in osteoarthritic patients.^9,10

The crucial role of vitamin D in optimizing the mechanical loading through its effect on muscle function and bone turnover has also been evaluated in the outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA).^11–28 A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is recorded among patients undergoing TJA due to osteoarthritis, giving rise to the hypothesis that perioperative levels of vitamin D might play a role in patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty.^29,30 Several studies have reported a correlation between vitamin D levels and functional status as well as the risk of complications following TJA with conflicting outcomes.^11–14,16 However, the literature is still inconsistent in this respect.

The purpose of this systematic review is to thoroughly evaluate the role of perioperative vitamin D levels in a) postoperative functional outcomes; b) patient related outcome measures (PROMs); and c) the risk of infection in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.

Materials and Methods

This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.³¹

Data Sources and Search Strategy

We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane library and ScienceDirect from inception to January 2020. For registered, ongoing trials, a search was conducted on ClinicalTrials.gov. The reference lists of the relevant studies retrieved were also hand-screened for additional missing records.

The search terms used were “knee arthroplasty”, “hip arthroplasty” and “vitamin D”. Free text searching was combined with Medical Subject Headings terms, and the detailed search strategy utilized can be found in the Supplementary Table 1.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

The search was limited to articles that were published in the English language. The inclusion criteria included randomised controlled trials, retrospective and prospective cohort studies as well as case-control studies that a) reported mean pre- and postoperative vitamin D values in patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty b) reported pre- and postoperative functional scores and PROMs for these patients and c) compared functional outcomes and PROMs between vitamin D deficient and sufficient patient groups. Case reports, reviews or conference presentations were excluded from the study.

Outcome Measures

The primary outcomes were the effect of vitamin D levels in the functional outcomes and PROMs following knee or hip arthroplasty. Secondary outcomes were comparison of a) survivorship b) length of stay (LOS) and c) complications, namely infection, between vitamin D sufficient and deficient patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.

Study Selection and Data Extraction

Two authors (PK and DK) independently searched the electronic databases for potentially relevant studies. After removing duplicates, the titles and abstracts of the retrieved records were screened for eligibility. In case of disagreement, a third investigator (ET) independently evaluated the study. Consequently, any discrepancies about the study selection process were solved by discussion and eligibility was defined by agreement with all authors. The various reasons for ineligible studies are presented in the flowchart of Figure 1.

Figure 1 PRISMA flowchart illustrating the search strategy.

Data extraction was independently performed by two investigators (PK and EK) in duplicate for each eligible study. Data collected included the year of publication, study design, patients’ demographics, methodological features of the trial, PROMs, functional results, LOS and infection rate. Any potential disagreement was resolved by discussion between the reviewers. Where necessary, a third investigator (ET) was contacted, and independently extracted data before consensus was reached.

Data Analysis and Methodological Quality Assessment

We performed a narrative synthesis of the literature to evaluate the included data. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle – Ottawa Scale (NOS).³² The NOS assesses the selection and comparability of study groups and ascertainment of the exposure-outcome using a “star system” where studies can be granted up to nine stars.

Results

Search Results

The initial search of the literature retrieved 3828 available articles. After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies by screening the title and abstract, 34 studies remained for review. Sixteen records were excluded because they were either incomplete studies, review studies or considered irrelevant after reading the full text. In total, 18 studies were included in the systematic review.^11–28 Details of the study screening and selection are displayed in the flowchart of Figure 1.

Methodological Quality Assessment

Five studies were of high methodological quality,^{11,14,15,18,21} 12 were of moderate quality^{12,13,16,17,19,20,22-25,27,28} and 1 of low quality.²⁶

The results of the quality assessment are demonstrated in Supplementary Table 2.

Study Characteristics

The included studies were published between 2008 and 2018. There were ten retrospective case series, six prospective cohort studies, one retrospective and one prospective case-control study. The sample size ranged from 42 to 6593, with a mean follow-up from six weeks to one year. We extracted data from more than 8000 knee and 1500 hip replacements. The mean reported age of the patients ranged from 59.4 to 76 years. Seventeen studies reported on the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D;^{11–23,25–28} 2598 out of 9720 (26.7%) patients were diagnosed with low vitamin D levels. The detailed descriptive characteristics of the included studies are presented in Table 1.

Table 1 Descriptive Characteristics of the Included Studies

Functional Outcomes in Knee Replacement

Seven studies reported functional outcomes and PROMs according to vitamin D status on 7360 knee arthroplasties (Table 2).^{11–15,17,25} The most commonly used PROMs were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Knee Society Score (KSS). The majority of studies showed no significant differences in preoperative WOMAC score between deficient and sufficient patients.^13–15 Only one study demonstrated a higher preoperative WOMAC score in vitamin D deficient patients.¹² Mean preoperative WOMAC score, as evaluated in four studies, ranging from 41.2 to 79.6 in hypovitaminosis group and 42.3 to 75.8 in euvitaminosis group.^12–15

Table 2 Effect of Vitamin D in Functional Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Knee Arthroplasty

Postoperatively, three studies reported insignificant differences in overall WOMAC score between vitamin D deficient and sufficient patients.^12–14 However, one study found that WOMAC stiffness subset had significantly less postoperative improvement in deficient patients.¹⁴ The series with the longest follow up, revealed significantly worse functional results in deficient patients.¹⁵ Mean postoperative WOMAC score ranged from 17.6 to 62.2 in the hypovitaminosis group and 15.8 to 52.5 in the euvitaminosis group.^12–15

KSS was evaluated in three studies.^11,12,25 Mean preoperative KSS score ranged from 31.5 to 56.2 in vitamin D deficient and 37.1 to 58.9 in vitamin D sufficient patients. Two studies reported comparable preoperative outcomes in both deficient and sufficient groups.^11,12 One study showed significantly lower KSS score in vitamin D deficient patients.²⁵

Postoperatively, there was no significant difference in KSS between groups in two studies.^12,25 One study found that functional KSS was significantly lesser in the vitamin D deficient group than in the vitamin D non-deficient group postoperatively; clinical KSS score remained comparable in both groups.¹¹ Mean postoperative KSS score ranged from 74.6 to 91.9 in the hypovitaminosis group and 80.4 to 91.2 in the euvitaminosis group.^11,12,25

Among other functional scores, 12-Item Short Form Survey mental component summary (SFMCS), 12-Item Short Form Survey physical component summary (SFPCS), alternative step test (AST), timed up and go test (TUGT), six-meter walk test (SMT), sit to stand test (STS) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) did not differ significantly preoperatively between patients with low and normal vitamin D levels. Postoperatively, SFPCS, SFMCS, ABC, STS, TUGT remained comparable between the two groups. However, the mean time taken for postoperative AST and SMT (8.8 vs 7.7 s, p = 0.012) was significantly longer in the vitamin D-deficient group than in the vitamin D non-deficient group.^11,12,14 Mean pre- and postoperative scores are demonstrated in detail in Supplementary Table 3.

Functional Outcomes in Hip Replacement

Six studies reported functional outcomes and PROMs according to vitamin D status on 721 hip replacements (Table 3).^18–22,28 Preoperative WOMAC score showed no significant difference between sufficient and deficient patients.^18,19,21 Mean preoperative WOMAC score ranged from 40.4 to 59 in the deficient and from 43.5 to 54 in the sufficient group. Postoperatively, the mean WOMAC score remained comparable between the two groups.^19,21 One study found that an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) concentration six weeks postoperatively was correlated with improved hip function.¹⁸

Table 3 Effect of Vitamin D in Functional Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroplasty

Harris Hip Score (HHS) was evaluated in two studies.^19,20 One study found significantly higher preoperative HHS in vitamin D sufficient group.²⁰ The result of the second study was dependent on the vitamin D cut off point. When the threshold of hypovitaminosis was set in 20 ng/mL, the authors found comparable pre- and postoperative HHS independent of vitamin D levels. However, using the 30 ng/mL as a cut-off point, deficient patients found to have significantly lower pre- and postoperative HHS than sufficient patients.¹⁹

Among the other functional outcomes evaluated, there was no association between serum vitamin D levels and Chair Stand Test (CST), 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT), in-hospital functional milestones and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36).^18,21,22 TUGT was recorded in two studies.^18,21 One study showed a significant improvement in TUGT over time but independent of vitamin D status.¹⁸ Contrary to these findings, a significant improvement in TUGT only in the low vitamin D group was revealed in another study.²¹ Mean pre- and postoperative scores are demonstrated in detail in Supplementary Table 4.

LOS

Five studies reported on the duration of hospitalization according to preoperative vitamin D status.^{13,15,22,26,27} Mean LOS was longer in the hypovitaminosis D group (3.8 to 15.6 days) compared to the euvitaminosis D group (3.6 to 11.3 days). The difference in LOS found to be statistically significant in two studies, with a mean difference between 1 to 4.3 days.^15,25 (Table 4)

Table 4 Length of Hospital Stay Based on the Vitamin D Level of Groups of Patients

Survival Rate of the Prosthesis

Survivorship was recorded in one study with the largest sample.¹⁷ Out of 6593 total knee arthroplasties (TKA), 868 suffered from hypovitaminosis D in this retrospective cohort study. At first-year follow-up, the incidence of revision arthroplasty for prosthesis explantation was found to be higher among the vitamin D deficient patients (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 2.04–4.31; p<0.001). However, this was mainly attributed to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) as the rates of non-infectious component revision were comparable between the two groups.

Complications - Risk of Infection

Six studies evaluated complication rate between vitamin D deficient and sufficient patients.^{16,17,22,24,26,27} They comprised of 7385 joint replacements; 6635 primary knee arthroplasties, 238 primary total hip arthroplasties (THA), 186 revision TKA, 186 revision THA, 109 unclarified primary, and 31 unclarified revision joint arthroplasties. Among the complications reported, PJI was the best described. Two studies reported that patients with low vitamin D levels are more likely to suffer from PJI.^17,27 One study found no significant differences in complication rates between sufficient and deficient groups.²²

Other failures reported were postoperative deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and postoperative stiffness requiring manipulation under anesthesia, all of which were found to be higher in vitamin D deficient patients as documented by one study only.¹⁷

Vitamin D Levels in Patients with PJI vs Aseptic Loosening

Four studies compared vitamin D levels of patients following revision joint replacement due to infection or aseptic loosening with conflicting outcomes.^16,24,26,27 Two of them concluded that patients undergoing revision for PJI were more likely to have low preoperative vitamin D levels as compared to those for aseptic loosening.^26,27 One study revealed lower vitamin D levels in patients with aseptic loosening compared to those undergoing revision for PJI.²⁴ Another study found no significant differences as to vitamin D status in the 25(OH)D₃ levels between these two groups.¹⁶

Vitamin D Levels in Patients with PJI vs Primary Arthroplasty

Two studies compared vitamin D status in patients scheduled for primary or revision joint arthroplasty due to PJI.^16,26 One of them reported non-significant differences (p=0.846), while the other one found a significantly lower vitamin D status in the PJI group (p<0.001).^16,26

Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Aseptic Loosening vs Primary Arthroplasty

Two studies reported no significant differences in vitamin D status between patients undergoing primary or revision joint replacement due to aseptic loosening.^16,26 (Table 5)

Table 5 Comparison of Vitamin D Levels Between Groups of Patients Undergoing Revision for Periprosthetic Join Infection or Aseptic Loosening or Primary Arthroplasty

Discussion

In this systematic review, we aimed to configure the potential role of vitamin D levels in lower limb arthroplasty in terms of PROMs, implant survivorship, LOS, and complications. The majority of studies did not report any differences in postoperative functional scores based on vitamin D status.^{13,14,21,22,25,28} It seems that patients with lower Vitamin D levels may be at higher risk of joint stiffness postoperatively.¹⁷ Vitamin D may also be a protective factor against PJI.²⁶

The existing literature shows a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with osteoarthritis undergoing arthroplasty.²⁵ The incidence of hypovitaminosis D in patients undergoing TKA ranges from 36.4% up to 76.2%.^{12–14,23,25,33,34} Similar rates were reported in patients scheduled for THA; ranging from 22% up to 82.8%.^{19–22,28,35} In our systematic review, we found 26.7% of patients undergoing joint replacements suffering from low vitamin D levels. This, however, might be an incidental finding attributed to factors, such as advanced age, osteoporosis and sun restriction.

The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis could be explored further through analysis of preoperative data of patients undergoing TJA. Most studies reported no connection between hypovitaminosis D and preoperative physical function of the knee or hip joint.^{11,13-15,18,19} These findings contrast with other studies reporting that deficient patients scheduled for TKA had worse preoperative WOMAC score.¹² The similar finding was reported in patients who had undergone THA as preoperative HHS was higher in sufficient patients scheduled for THA.²⁰ However, these are only point measurements and potentially, underestimate the disease course and the effect of hypovitaminosis D on the disease progress.

On the other hand, the postoperative progress of patients undergoing THA and TKA is dependent on a number of factors, including the patients’ age, the types of prostheses, and the disease duration.³⁶ The potential for a positive correlation between vitamin D levels and improved postoperative results is open to research and might, in fact, actually be given the possible positive effect of vitamin D on the function of muscular system and integration of prostheses.

Postoperatively, the outcomes regarding the knee function after ΤΚΑ remain inconclusive. More specifically, several studies showed comparable postoperative clinical results between vitamin D sufficient and deficient groups.^12,14 Contrary to this finding, many studies showed an association between low vitamin D levels and worse postoperative clinical outcomes after TKA, such as KSS & AST as well as stiffness subcategory of WOMAC score.^11,17 The short follow-up period and the inability to measure any potential vitamin D intake are the main drawbacks of these series. Moreover, the absence of comparability as regards the preoperative levels of vitamin D, the disease duration, the type of prosthesis, and the surgical methods all reduce the reliability of the results.

As for the postoperative function of the hip joint, the results are equivocal. There seems to be a positive association between vitamin D levels and improved postoperative PROMs.^18,20 A weak association has also been found between vitamin D deficiency and a negative change in peak extension and peak power generation when analyzing the gait patterns after THA.²⁸ Once again, the exclusion of the most severe cases, the short follow-up period and the absence of comparability in regard to prostheses type and surgical methods all affect the reliability of the studies. So further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of vitamin D deficiency in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.

Unfortunately, there is limited literature evidence on the effect of vitamin D on implant survival and the ways in which the vitamin can prolong prostheses survivorship.¹⁷ It might be the case that it is associated with higher osseointegration yet, this primarily concerns uncemented prostheses. A sole study demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for prosthesis explantation following knee arthroplasty.¹⁷ However, this was mainly attributed to infectious reasons as the non-infectious component revision rate was found to be comparable between deficient and sufficient groups.¹⁷

The role of vitamin D in the prevention of septic conditions is well-documented.^37–40 It prevents the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein and is a crucial mediator in the aggregation of leukocytes, local inflammation, and anti-bacterial responses in innate immunity.⁴¹ The levels of vitamin D have also been inversely associated with the risk of infectious complications after surgery.^42,43 In orthopaedic procedures, the evidence is relatively scarce.^16,24,26,27 Several studies found lower vitamin D levels in patients with PJI compared to those with aseptic loosening.^26,27 Interestingly, there was one study that reported higher vitamin D levels in patients with PJI.²⁴ However, the absence of measurements of serum vitamin D in the postoperative follow-up negatively impacts upon the quality of these findings.

The main limitation of this systematic review is the different vitamin D reference range reported in the studies. The classification of vitamin D status based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin has not been unanimously accepted, which complicates the interpretation of the data.⁴⁴ What is thus, needed is the standardization of the definition of vitamin D insufficiency. Another concern that could be raised is the retrospective design in the majority of the studies. High-quality randomized control trials are necessary to prove the effectiveness of vitamin D on PROMs following lower limb arthroplasty. A third objection is the comparability of the groups. Functional results following TJA are multifactorial. There was no clear indication in the studies that vitamin is connected to some extent to the outcomes.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our study identified a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis in osteoarthritis patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. Although a positive correlation of vitamin D status and postoperative functional outcomes is reported in some studies, the necessity of preoperative correction of vitamin D remains an open question. Moreover, despite the acknowledged role of vitamin D in infectious diseases, it is yet to be clarified whether supplementation of vitamin D has a protective effect in PJI.