This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increase risk for acute rhinosinusitis

Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels appeared associated with development of acute rhinosinusitis, according to study results.

Ayesha N. Khalid, MD, MBA, of the department of surgery and division of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., and colleagues analyzed the relationship between acute rhinosinusitis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels of 3,921 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006. All study participants were aged 17 years or older.

The researchers used multivariate regression analyses to control for season, age, sex, race and socioeconomic status, as well as for clinical factors such as diabetes mellitus, neutropenia, asthma, smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Median 25OHD level was 22 ng/mL (interquartile range, 16-18).

Results showed 15.8% (95% CI, 14.4-17.7) of participants reported acute rhinosinusitis in the 24 hours leading up to the survey. After adjusting for demographic, seasonal and clinical data, Khalid and colleagues found an association between 25OHD levels and acute rhinosinusitis (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99 per 10 ng/mL).

When vitamin D levels status was dichotomized, results showed 25OHD levels less than 20 ng/mL were linked to a higher risk of acute rhinosinusitis compared with levels of 20 ng/mL or higher (OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03-1.72).

“Our analyses suggest that 25OHD levels are inversely associated with acute rhinosinusitis,” Khalid and colleagues wrote. “Randomized, controlled trials are warranted to determine the effect of optimizing vitamin D status on the risk of sinonasal infections.” – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: Healio.com was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of reporting.