Table 3 Risk factors of study participants and serum vitamin B ₁₂ levels

Sex

Male

62 (35.6)

1

1

Female

18 (17)

0.35 (0.20-0.67)

0.001

0.4 (0.22 - 0.73)

0.003

Age

≤ 40

62 (27)

1

41 - 60

16 (36.4)

1.55 (0.79-3.06)

0.207

≥ 61

2 (33.3)

1.35 (0.24-7.58)

0.73

Diarrhoea (> 1 month)

No

75 (27.8)

1

Yes

5 (50.0)

2.6 (0.73-9.24)

0.14

Duration of psychiatric illness

< 3 years

26 (19.7)

1

1

≥ 3 years

54 (36.5)

2.34 (1.36-4.06)

0.002

2.27 (1.29 - 3.98)

0.004

Duration of hospitalisation

≥ 3 weeks

74 (27.4)

1

1

< 3 weeks

6 (60.0)

3.97 (1.09-14.48)

0.037

4.01 (1.02 - 15.79)

0.047

Alcohol consumption

No

57 (29.8)

1

Yes

23 (25.8)

0.82 (0.46-1.44)

0.491

Anticonvulsants

No

64 (26.8)

1

Yes

16 (39.0)

1.75 (0.88-3.49)

0.112

*Duration of anticonvulsants

≤ 4 years

11 (32.4)

1

>4 years

5 (83.3)

10.46 (1.09 – 100.59)

0.042

HIV test

Positive

8 (30.8)

1

Negative

72 (28.3)

1.12 (0.47-2.70)

0.795

Schizophrenia

No

39 (23.5)

1

1

yes

41 (36.0)

1.8 (1.08-3.09)

0.024

1.74 (1.00-3.02)

0.049

Bipolar affective disorder

No

54 (30.5)

1

Yes

26 (25.2)

0.77 (0.45-1.33)

0.348

Depression

No

77 (28.9)

1

Yes

3 (21.4)

0.67 (0.18-2.47)

0.546

Organic brain syndrome

No

79 (28.7)

1

Yes

1 (20.0)

0.62 (0.68-5.64)

0.671

Mental retardation

No

79 (28.4)

1

Yes

1 (50.0)

2.52 (0.16-40.77)

0.515

Substance abuse

No

74 (29.4)

1

Yes

6 (21.4)

0.66 (0.26-1.68)

0.381

HIV associated psychosis

No

78 (28.9)

1

Yes

2 (20.0)

0.61 (0.13-2.96)

0.545