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. 2012;7(6):e38934.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038934. Epub 2012 Jun 21.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with low levels of vitamin D

Louise Jeanette Pauline Persson  1 , Marianne Aanerud, Pieter Sicco Hiemstra, Jon Andrew Hardie, Per Sigvald Bakke, Tomas Mikal Lind Eagan
Affiliations

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with low levels of vitamin D

Louise Jeanette Pauline Persson et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

Introduction: COPD patients may be at increased risk for vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency, but risk factors for deficiency among COPD patients have not been extensively reported.

Methods: Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by liquid chromatography double mass spectrometry in subjects aged 40-76 years from Western Norway, including 433 COPD patients (GOLD stage II-IV) and 325 controls. Levels <20 ng/mL defined deficiency. Season, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, GOLD stage, exacerbation frequency, arterial oxygen tension (PaO(2)), respiratory symptoms, depression (CES-D score≥16), comorbidities (Charlson score), treatment for osteoporosis, use of inhaled steroids, and total white blood count were examined for associations with 25(OH)D in both linear and logistic regression models.

Results: COPD patients had an increased risk for vitamin D deficiency compared to controls after adjustment for seasonality, age, smoking and BMI. Variables associated with lower 25(OH)D levels in COPD patients were obesity ( = -6.63), current smoking ( = -4.02), GOLD stage III- IV ( = -4.71, = -5.64), and depression ( = -3.29). Summertime decreased the risk of vitamin D deficiency (OR = 0.22).

Conclusion: COPD was associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, and important disease characteristics were significantly related to 25(OH)D levels.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Seasonal variation of measured serum 25(OH)D in controls and COPD patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) plotted as a function of serum 25(OH)D levels for COPD patients and controls.
The Pearson coefficient (r) is calculated and given in the graph.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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