Serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation: Short Communication

Regarding immune-regulatory roles of vitamin D as well as its effect on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the present study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in patients with COPD exacerbation. The study population included 70 patients with COPD exacerbation who were hospitalized in the general ward of an affiliated hospital with Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Blood samples were taken from the patients and transmitted to the laboratory for vitamin D serum levels assessment after serum separation. The patients were staged according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Spirometry was performed during the disease exacerbation and one month after discharge. The Mean±SD age of the studied patients was 65.44±13.3 years. Out of the70 studied patients in this study, 33 (47.1%), 28 (40%), and 9 (11.7%) cases had vitamin D deficiency, insufficient levels of vitamin D, and normal serum levels of vitamin D, respectively. Mean±SD vitamin D serum level in the studied patients was obtained at 14.1±1.98 ng/dl. No significant difference was observed between vitamin D serum levels in different stages in terms of severity of COPD (P=0.26). Based on the obtained results, most patients with COPD exacerbation suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, the measurement of vitamin D serum level and prescription of vitamin D supplements seem to be a necessary measure for these patients