A NEW study has found that severe vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with an increased risk of severe acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The prospective observational study followed 636 patients with COPD hospitalised for exacerbations between January 2021–December 2022, categorising them based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
Over an 18-month follow-up period, 28% of patients experienced at least one severe exacerbation, with the highest rates observed in those with severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL). This group had an exacerbation rate of 40.6%, compared to 27.8% in the deficiency group (10–20 ng/mL), 22.5% in the insufficiency group (20–30 ng/mL), and 18.1% in those with sufficient levels (>30 ng/mL). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that severe deficiency was a significant independent risk factor for exacerbations (hazard ratio: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.55–4.84; P<0.01).
These findings suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels could play a crucial role in reducing COPD exacerbations. Given the potential impact on hospitalisation rates and disease progression, routine vitamin D assessment and supplementation should be considered in COPD management strategies.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Zhou L et al. The role of severe vitamin d deficiency in predicting the risk of severe exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2025;20:171-179.
