Document Type
Article
Department
Paediatrics and Child Health; Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Abstract
Background: The function of Vitamin D in preventing inflammation and infection has been studied previously for different pathologies in different populations globally. Relationships between serum Vitamin D levels and its effect on pulmonary exacerbations in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population are not well studied in our part of the world. Therefore, we aimed to ascertain the Vitamin D status in pediatric and adolescent CF patients and its association with pulmonary exacerbations.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital from 2015 to 2018. Patients of CF with sweat chloride value >60 mmol/l and who had at least one measurement of 25 hydroxy Vitamin D (25 OHD) were included in the study. Annual serum Vitamin D levels were documented for enrolled patients and their past 1-year data were analyzed for pulmonary exacerbations, average length of stay, and tracheal/airway colonization with organisms.
Results: 69 patients were included in the study. 28 patients (40.57%) were found to be Vitamin D deficient, 22 patients (31.88%) were Vitamin D insufficient and 19 patients (27.53%) were labeled as Vitamin D insufficient. The average number of exacerbations per year was significantly high in Vitamin D deficient group (3.71 ± 0.96) in comparison with insufficient (3.18 ± 1.09) and sufficient groups (2.26 ± 0.93) (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is related to an increased number of annual pulmonary exacerbations and pseudomonas infections.
Publication ( Name of Journal)
Lung India
Recommended Citation
Aziz, D. A.,
Fatima, S. K.,
Iftikhar, H.,
Mir, F.
(2021). Vitamin D status and pulmonary exacerbations in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: Experience from a tertiary care center. Lung India, 38(4), 326-329.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_paediatr/1038
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.