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Vitamin D levels may predict cognitive impairment in patients with SLE

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Cognitive impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was linked to low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, according to recently presented data.

Researchers studied 61 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 61 healthy participants. Nearly 85% of patients with SLE were women. The group had a median age 36 years and median disease duration of 6 years.

All participants were assessed for serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) to assess cognitive function. The mean total throughput score, which investigators defined as the throughput subscores for eight of the ANAM subtests, was the primary outcome variable. Cognitive dysfunction was defined as a mean total throughput score of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean for healthy participants. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as less than 10 ng/mL. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 10 to 29 ng/mL, and Vitamin D sufficiency was defined by levels at or above 30 ng/mL.

Patients with SLE had significantly higher total HADS scores and subscores for anxiety and depression compared with healthy participants. Cognitive dysfunction was identified in 21 patients with SLE and one healthy participant. Patients with SLE had significantly lower scores in four ANAM subtests for learning, immediate memory, delayed memory and total throughput scores after adjusting for age, education, gender, ethnicity and HADS-Total score.

More patients with SLE were 25(OH)D₃ deficient compared with healthy participants (19.7% vs. 3.3%) despite supplementation with vitamin D₂ (13.1% vs. 0%).

After adjustments for age, education, gender, ethnicity, HADS, disease duration, disease activity scores and cumulative steroid dose, investigators found deficiency of 25(OH)D₃ — but not other vitamin D variables — was linked to poorer total throughput scores. After they adjusted for education, gender, ethnicity and HADS-Total, researchers found age was predictive of poorer total throughput scores. - by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Tay SH, et al. Paper #2957. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Nov. 7-11, 2015; San Francisco.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.