Notes from the journals

Abstract

ST A R PA PE R Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in cardiovascular diseases (from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2004) Kim DH, Sabour S, Sagar UN, Adams S, Whellan DJ Am J Cardiol 2008;102:1540–4 Study. The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in adults with CVDs from 2001 to 2004 were studied. Serum (25[OH]D) levels were divided into three categories 30, 20–29 and ,20 ng/mL, and hypovitaminosis D was defined as vitamin D ,30 ng/mL. Results. In more than 8000 adults, the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 74%. The burden of CVDs increased with lower 25[OH]D categories, with 5.3%, 6.7% and 7.3% of coronary heart disease; 1.5%, 2.4% and 3.2% heart failure; 2.5%, 2.0% and 3.2% stroke and 3.6%, 5.0% and 7.7% peripheral arterial disease. Across all CVDs, hypovitaminosis D was more common in blacks than in Hispanics or Whites. Conclusion. Hypovitaminosis D was highly prevalent in US adults with CVDs, particularly those with both coronary heart disease and heart failure.