Open AccessVitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exacerbation of COPD
Author(s) -
Lokesh Komarla Sundararaja,
Chaya Sindaghatta Krishnarao,
Jayaraj Biligere Siddaiah,
Praveena Attahalli Shivanarayanprasad,
Krishna Murali,
Madhivanan Purnima,
Mahesh Padukudru Anand
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.13310
Subject(s) - copd , medicine , exacerbation , vitamin d and neurology , vitamin d deficiency , body mass index , logistic regression , vitamin , cohort , pulmonary disease , gastroenterology
Low Vitamin D levels have been associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and acute exacerbations. Objectives There is a paucity of data on Vitamin D and COPD, its severity and exacerbations in populations that are exposed to sunlight regularly with high levels of physical activity most of their lives. Methods Serum levels of 25‐OH‐Vitamin‐D were assessed in 100 COPD subjects and 100 age‐ and gender‐matched controls from the rural community‐based MUDHRA cohort in South India. Levels of <20 ng/mL were defined as Vitamin D deficiency. Smoking habits, occupation, Charlson co‐morbidity index, Standard of living index(SLI), body mass index(BMI), 6‐minute walking distance were examined for associations with logistic regression between controls and COPD subjects. Unconditional logistic regression was used to examine the association with exacerbation of COPD. Results Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 64.5% (95%CI 57.7–70.8) of the subjects in spite of regular exposure to sunlight. Subjects with COPD had higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency (Adjusted OR: 5.05; 95%CI 1.4–17.8) as compared to controls. Amongst subjects with COPD, Vitamin D deficient subjects were three times more likely to have exacerbations in the previous year (Adjusted OR:3.51; 95%CI 1.27–9.67) as compared to COPD subjects without Vitamin D deficiency. Levels of Vitamin D <20.81 ng/mL and <18.45 ng/mL had the highest levels of combined sensitivity and specificity for COPD and acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) respectively. Conclusion In a rural population exposed to sunlight many hours a day throughout their lives, low Vitamin D levels were associated with COPD and exacerbations of COPD.