Abstract

CHRONIC ASTHMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW LEVELS OF VITAMIN D

Dr.Subinay Datta, Dr.Ritabrata Mitra, *Dr.Mrinal Pal

Abstract

Introduction: asthmatic patients may be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency, but risk factors for deficiency among these patients have not been extensively reported. Methods: Serum 25(OH)D was estimated by enhanced chemiluminescent assay in subjects aged 20-60 years from Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, West Bengal, India, including 552 asthmatic patients and 521 controls. Levels 20 ng/ml defined deficiency. Season, sex, age, diets, body complexion, body mass index (BMI), smoking, comorbidities (Charlson score), were examined for associations with 25(OH)D in both linear and logistic regression models. Results: Asthmatic patients had an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency compared to controls after adjustment for age, smoking and BMI, season, diet, skin complexion. Variables associated with lower 25(OH)D levels in adsthmatic patients were obesity ( -6.65), current smoking ( -4.09), Vegetarian (- 3.94), dark skin complexion (-1.58) and depression ( -3.26). Summertime decreased the risk of vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.24). Conclusion: Asthma was associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency even after adjustment for confounding factors that are responsible for lowering vitamin D.

Keywords: Asthma, 25 (OH) D, Confounding factors.