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Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients associated with increased mortality

Date:
May 10, 2011
Source:
Wiley-Blackwell
Summary:
A new study reveals that adult patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia are more likely to die if they have vitamin D deficiency.
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A new study published in the journal Respirology reveals that adult patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia are more likely to die if they have vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is known to be involved in the innate immune response to infection.

The team of researchers at Waikato Hospital and the Universities of Waikato and Otago, measured vitamin D in the blood samples of 112 adult patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia during the winter at the only acute-care hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand.

The researchers found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher mortality within the first 30 days after hospital admission for pneumonia. The association between vitamin D deficiency was not explained by patient age, sex, comorbidities, the severity of the systemic inflammatory response, or other known prognostic factors.

The authors conclude that "improved understanding of Vitamin D and its role in immunity may lead to better ways to prevent and/or treat pneumonia. We now need to investigate whether Vitamin D supplements could be a useful addition to pneumonia treatment and whether using supplements could help to prevent or reduce the severity of pneumonia among high-risk populations."


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Journal Reference:

  1. Leong Leow, Talia Simpson, Ray Cursons, Noel Karalus, Robert J. Hancox. Vitamin D, innate immunity and outcomes in community acquired pneumonia. Respirology, 2011; 16 (4): 611 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.01924.x

Cite This Page:

Wiley-Blackwell. "Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients associated with increased mortality." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 May 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510101623.htm>.
Wiley-Blackwell. (2011, May 10). Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients associated with increased mortality. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510101623.htm
Wiley-Blackwell. "Vitamin D deficiency in pneumonia patients associated with increased mortality." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110510101623.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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