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I would be very surprised if most people get vitamin d levels measured annually.

by SketchySeaBeast 9mo ago

bookofjoe 9mo ago
I would be very surprised if anyone got vitamin d levels measured who didn't specifically request it.
- fjordofnorway 9mo ago
  People in particular groups with higher risk of deficiency will be tested every year by many doctors. That practice obviously can't amount to testing every year being the average though.
- Supermancho 9mo ago
  The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test (aka: 25(OH)D test) is not part of a lipid panel, comprehensive (nor standard) metabolic panel, or any number of tests I have regularly. Without a specific request, it's unlikely anyone gets tested for this unless maybe you're a psychiatric patient. When I had severe depression in my 20s, a doctor did have this test done.
- tehjoker 9mo ago
  It's surprising because so many people are deficient and the treatment is extremely cheap. It's bizarre, it's like if a problem is a big enough problem, medicine says well most people are living with it and washes its hands.
- Aurornis 9mo ago
  All of my doctors (due to moves, retirements, etc) have done this for years in the US. When the topic came up recently at a get together everyone could recall their relative Vitamin D levels (too low, normal) from recent checkups. It’s common, at least in the US areas where I’ve lived.
tocs3 9mo ago
At least for the past few years it has been part of my annual physical. I had no idea it was part of the blood test until it came out as being low.
Aurornis 9mo ago
I’ve had 5 different primary care doctors across multiple practices in different locations due to moving, changing jobs, and doctors retiring Every single one of them included Vitamin D testing in the annual checkup. Two of my jobs in the past few years have had wellness programs that offered free Vitamin D testing along with a couple other things (A1c, lipids) It’s very common in the United States at least. I know this goes against the “US healthcare bad” narrative but one of the difficulties with our costs is that we get more testing and procedures. Cutting those costs is going to be hard because people like the freedom to have their doctor order common tests
- SketchySeaBeast 9mo ago
  I would say it's probably less "US healthcare bad" and more "US healthcare is bimodal".

I would be very surprised if most people get vitamin d levels measured annually.

bookofjoe 9mo ago

I would be very surprised if anyone got vitamin d levels measured who didn't specifically request it.

fjordofnorway 9mo ago
People in particular groups with higher risk of deficiency will be tested every year by many doctors. That practice obviously can't amount to testing every year being the average though.
Supermancho 9mo ago
The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test (aka: 25(OH)D test) is not part of a lipid panel, comprehensive (nor standard) metabolic panel, or any number of tests I have regularly. Without a specific request, it's unlikely anyone gets tested for this unless maybe you're a psychiatric patient. When I had severe depression in my 20s, a doctor did have this test done.
tehjoker 9mo ago
It's surprising because so many people are deficient and the treatment is extremely cheap. It's bizarre, it's like if a problem is a big enough problem, medicine says well most people are living with it and washes its hands.
Aurornis 9mo ago
All of my doctors (due to moves, retirements, etc) have done this for years in the US. When the topic came up recently at a get together everyone could recall their relative Vitamin D levels (too low, normal) from recent checkups. It’s common, at least in the US areas where I’ve lived.

tocs3 9mo ago

At least for the past few years it has been part of my annual physical. I had no idea it was part of the blood test until it came out as being low.

Aurornis 9mo ago

I’ve had 5 different primary care doctors across multiple practices in different locations due to moving, changing jobs, and doctors retiring Every single one of them included Vitamin D testing in the annual checkup. Two of my jobs in the past few years have had wellness programs that offered free Vitamin D testing along with a couple other things (A1c, lipids) It’s very common in the United States at least. I know this goes against the “US healthcare bad” narrative but one of the difficulties with our costs is that we get more testing and procedures. Cutting those costs is going to be hard because people like the freedom to have their doctor order common tests

SketchySeaBeast 9mo ago
I would say it's probably less "US healthcare bad" and more "US healthcare is bimodal".