title: Low serum vitamin D is not associated with an increase in mortality in oldest old subjects: the Octabaix three-year follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor vitamin D status, i.e. low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], is common in the general population. Prospective epidemiologic data on the association between vitamin D and mortality in oldest old subjects are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether 25(OH)D concentrations were prospectively and independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and all-cause mortality in oldest old subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 312 subjects aged 85 years old at baseline (Octabaix study) were followed for 3 years. Sociodemographic and overall geriatric assessment data were collected. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were used to assess vitamin D status. Data on overall and cardiovascular mortality were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum 25(OH)D levels were 28 ± 30 ng/ml. During the follow-up period, 58 subjects (18.5%) died. Twenty-five of the deaths (8%) were related to CVD. There were no differences in mortality rates according to the different quartiles of vitamin D (p = 0.41 for total mortality and p = 0.86 for CVD mortality).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In community-dwelling oldest old subjects, serum 25(OH)D levels were not associated with overall or CVD mortality after a 3-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Service, IDIBELL, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formiga
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Maria Jesus
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Megido
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boix
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contra
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D