Publication:

Estimation of serum vitamin D level in childhood asthma at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Background Asthma is a prevalent chronic disease that significantly affects children globally, with implications for both health and quality of life. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various respiratory disorders, including asthma. However, the relationship between vitamin D levels and asthma severity remains unclear, particularly in Bangladeshi children. This study aims to evaluate and compare serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between children with asthma and healthy controls, examining whether vitamin D insufficiency is associated with different asthma subtypes.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the paediatrics department of Bangladesh medical university (BMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2020 to October 2021. A total of 90 children aged 8-18 years were enrolled: 60 children with asthma and 30 healthy controls. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured and compared between the two groups. Additionally, the relationship between vitamin D levels and asthma subtypes was analysed.

Results The mean serum vitamin D level in asthmatic children was significantly lower (24.7±7.1 ng/ml) compared to non-asthmatic children (35.9±7.6 ng/ml, p<0.001). Vitamin D deficiency was present in 23.3% of asthmatic children compared to 13.3% in the control group. However, no significant correlation was found between vitamin D levels and asthma severity.

Conclusions Children with asthma exhibited significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than their healthy counterparts. While this study highlights the association of vitamin D deficiency with asthma, further research is needed to clarify its role in asthma severity.