Published in:
Open Access
01-09-2019 | Original Contribution
Vitamin D deficiency is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors:
Richard M. Cubbon, Judith E. Lowry, Michael Drozd, Marlous Hall, John Gierula, Maria F. Paton, Rowena Byrom, Lorraine C. Kearney, Julian H. Barth, Mark T. Kearney, Klaus K. Witte
Published in:
European Journal of Nutrition
|
Issue 6/2019
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Abstract
Purpose
Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations have been associated with adverse outcomes in selected populations with established chronic heart failure (CHF). However, it remains unclear whether 25[OH]D deficiency is associated with mortality and hospitalisation in unselected patients receiving contemporary medical and device therapy for CHF.
Methods
We prospectively examined the prevalence and correlates of 25[OH]D deficiency in 1802 ambulatory patients with CHF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45%) attending heart failure clinics in the north of England.
Results
73% of patients were deficient in 25[OH]D (< 50 nmol/L). 25[OH]D deficiency was associated with male sex, diabetes, lower serum sodium, higher heart rate, and greater diuretic requirement. During a mean follow-up period of 4 years, each 2.72-fold increment in 25[OH]D concentration (for example from 32 to 87 nmol/L) is associated with 14% lower all-cause mortality (95% confidence interval (CI) 1, 26%; p = 0.04), after accounting for potential confounding factors.
Conclusions
Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Whether vitamin D supplementation will improve outcomes is, as yet, unproven.