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papers

Vitamin D, asthma prevalence and asthma exacerbations: a large adult population-based study

Published: October 3, 2014
Category: Bibliography > Papers
Authors: Brufman I, Confino-Cohen R, Feldman BS, Goldberg A
Countries: Israel
Language: null
Types: Population Health
Settings: Hospital, PCP

Allergy.

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.

BACKGROUND: The impact of low vitamin D status on asthma, asthma morbidity and control is unclear. We aimed to investigate in adults the associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and prevalent asthma as well as asthma exacerbations.

METHODS: A cohort of Israeli adults aged 22-50 years with documented vitamin D status were extracted from Clalit Health Services (HMO) between July 1, 2008 and July 1, 2012. Among this population, those with physician-diagnosed asthma and asthma exacerbations were identified. Asthma exacerbations were defined as any of the following: prescription for oral corticosteroids, >5 prescriptions for short acting beta agonists and more than four visits to a physician for asthma. Logistic regression models assessed the associations between vitamin D and both asthma and asthma exacerbations.

RESULTS: Approximately 308 000 members with at least one vitamin D measurement were included in the cohort. Among them, 6.9% (21 237) had physician-diagnosed asthma vs 5.7% in the general population. Serum 25-OHD levels across both groups were similar. However, among those with vitamin D deficiency, the odds of having an exacerbation were 25% greater compared to those with levels in the normal range. This association remained significant after controlling for known confounders.

CONCLUSION: While there was no significant association between vitamin D status and physician-diagnosed asthma, there was a strong association with asthma exacerbations. The presented evidence supports vitamin D screening in the subgroup of asthmatics that are uncontrolled and experience recurrent exacerbations.

PMID: 25139052

Israel,High-Impact Chronic Conditions,Morbidity Pattern,Medications,Adult,Asthma/diagnosis,Asthma/etiology,Disease Progression,Middle Aged,Population Surveillance,Prevalence,Risk Factors,Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives,Vitamin D Deficiency/complications

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