POS-2026-3011 : Trends and variation in vitamin D testing and prescribing

Vitamin D is important for people’s health, and lack of the vitamin can cause health issues such as osteoporosis. Testing for and prescribing of vitamin D is common, and has been increasing in recent years. However such testing and prescribing are only recommended in limited circumstances.

It is therefore quite likely that testing and prescribing is happening more than clinically necessary in some areas. This is likely to be less cost effective than if guidelines were closely followed, and could even cause patient harm (for example, a “false positive” result might cause unnecessary worry).

This study aims to measure vitamin D testing and prescribing, including how much it varies geographically, amongst different GPs, and between different patient groups (for example by age, sex, ethnicity, and whether patients have a recorded indication for testing or prescribing). The study will also determine how testing and prescribing have changed over time.