Prevalence Of Vitamin D And Serum Calium Deficiency In Stable Copd Patients- A One Year Hospital Based Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives COPD is a major burden of chronic morbidity & mortality. Majority of mortality occurs while patient comes in episodes of acute exacerbations. Common triggering factors for exacerbations are infection by respiratory viruses and bacteria, which increases airway inflammation. Vitamin D metabolites enhance the induction of antiviral and antimicrobial effector mechanisms and decreases inflammatory responses. Vitamin D levels decreases with age & aging is potential risk factor for developing COPD. In COPD considering the age and poor nutrition status due to disease or comorbidity there might be an increased prevalence of serum calcium deficiency. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in serum calcium level regulation in the body. This study is aimed to find out the prevalence of deficiency of Vitamin D and hypocalcemia in stable COPD patients and to look for any association between Vitamin D and hypocalcemia in stable COPD patients Methodology - The study was a one-year observational study done in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, J N Medical College, Belagavi. A total of 100 stable COPD patients were included. All patients underwent clinical examination, spirometry, measurement of serum Vitamin D levels and serum calcium levels. The Vitamin D levels were correlated to age group, gender, BMI, smoking history, calcium levels. Results- Total of 100 stable COPD patients were enrolled in the study. There were 65 males, 35 females. Mean age of the study population was 67.70+ 10.11. Predominant age group of study population was 70-79years. Majority of study population had normal BMI which was in 59 patients. Mean FEV1 of was 55.8+14.33% predicted. Mean vitamin D levels was 19.33+13.84. Mean serum calcium level was 8.68+0.54. Prevalence of vitamin D was found to be 62% in the study population. Prevalence of hypocalcemia is found to be 44% Conclusion - Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in stable COPD patients. There was no association between severity and vitamin D levels among study population. Prevalence of hypocalcemia in stable COPD is high.There was no relation between serum calcium levels and vitamin D levels.