Association Between Severe Vitamin D Deficiency, Lung Function and Asthma Control.
BACKGROUND
To examine the relationship between severe vitamin D deficiency, asthma control, and pulmonary function in Turkish adults with asthma.


METHODS
One hundred six asthmatic patients underwent pulmonary function tests skin prick test, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, IgE, body mass index and vitamin D levels were determined. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to vitamin D levels (vitamin D level<10ng/ml and vitamin D level≥10 ng/ml). Asthma control tests were performed.


RESULTS
The mean age of subgroup i (vitamin D level<10) was 37±10 and the mean age of subgroup ii (vitamin D level≥10ng/ml) was 34±8. Sixty-six percent of patients had severe vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D level<10 ng/ml). There was a significant trend towards lower absolute FEV1(L) values in patients with lower vitamin D levels (P=.001). Asthma control test scores were significantly low in the severe deficiency group than the other group (P=.02). There were a greater number of patients with uncontrolled asthma (asthma control test scores<20) in the severe vitamin D deficiency group (P=.040). Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency had a higher usage of inhaled corticosteroids than the group without severe vitamin D deficiency (P=.015). There was a significant trend towards lower absolute FEV1(L) (P=.005, r=.272) values in patients with lower vitamin D levels. Vitamin D levels were inversely related with body mass index (P=.046).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of severe vitamin D deficiency was high in adult Turkish asthmatics. In addition, lower vitamin D levels were associated with poor asthma control and decreased pulmonary function.
Department of Pulmonolgy and Intensive care, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University , Estambul, Turquía. Electronic address: sedabeyhansagmen@gmail.com.
Seda
S
Beyhan-Sagmen
Department of Pulmonolgy and Intensive care, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University , Estambul, Turquía.
Ozgur
O
Baykan
Department of Pulmonolgy and Intensive care, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University , Estambul, Turquía.
Baran
B
Balcan
Department of Pulmonolgy and Intensive care, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University , Estambul, Turquía.
Berrin
B
Ceyhan
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*
Asthma control; Control del asma; Déficit grave de vitamina D; FEV(1); Función pulmonar; Pulmonary function; Severe vitamin D deficiency