VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

Abstract

Context: In addition to traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, there are new risk factors with potentially relevant prognostic, such as vitamin D deficiency.

Objective: The study aims to analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, in patients who already have at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

Design: It is a prospective, observational study. Follow- up time was 24 months.

Subjects and methods: A total of 77 patients were included in the study, aged over 18 years, who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Their vitamin D levels were measured and they were monitored for a period of 2 years, in order to see which one developed cardiovascular diseases.

Results: Of the 77 patients, 56 (72.7%) had serum deficient levels of vitamin D and the mean serum level was 16 ng/mL (± 8.6 ng/mL). Statistically significant differences were observed only in the case of dyslipidemia (p=0.0334). The evolution to cardiovascular disease occurred in 39 of the cases (50.6%). The only independent risk factors for progression to cardiovascular disease demonstrated in this study were serum vitamin D (OR = 0.9024, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97 and age (OR = 1.1313, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21).

Conclusion: The results shows that patients with cardiovascular risk factors and advanced age are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, if they also have vitamin D deficiency.