title: Vitamin D deficiency and adult asthma exacerbations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is growing evidence indicating a connection between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of asthma exacerbations. This study seeks to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the number and severity of asthma exacerbation in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted in 92 patients being treated for asthma at the University of New Mexico Adult Asthma Clinic. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were analyzed in adults with mild to severe persistent asthma. Using multi-variant modeling, the relationship was examined between serum vitamin D levels and the odds of asthma exacerbations ranging in severity from moderate to severe over the span of five years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study demonstrates that vitamin D sufficiency was significantly associated with a decreased total number of asthma exacerbations (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44-0.84, p = 0.002), decreased total severe asthma exacerbations (IRR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.24-0.72, p = 0.002) and decreased emergency room visits (IRR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20-0.88, p = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to the risk of severe asthma exacerbations in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center , Albuquerque, NM , USA.
authors.forename: Natalie Mariam
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Harkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents
keywords: Analysis; FEV1; deficient; hospitalization; preventative; severity; sufficient