The Role of Vitamin D in the Relationship Between Gender and Deep Vein Thrombosis Among Stroke Patients

Prevalence and risk factors for proximal deep vein thrombosis at admission in patients with traumatic fractures: a multicenter retrospective study

Objective

This study aimed to determine the associated risk factors for proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with lower extremity and pelvic-acetabular fractures.

Methods

The medical records of 4,056 patients with lower extremity and pelvic-acetabular fractures were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into proximal or non-proximal DVT groups. Logistic regression models were used to determine the independent risk variables for proximal DVT. The predictive value of the related risk factors was further analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

The prevalence of proximal DVT was 3.16%. Sex, body mass index (BMI), fracture site, injury mechanism, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), injury-to-admission interval, hematocrit, platelet counts, and D-dimer levels differed significantly between the two groups. BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2, femoral shaft fractures, high-energy injury, diabetes, injury-to-admission interval >24 h were independent risk factors for proximal DVT. CHD decreased the risk of proximal DVT. The platelet and D-dimer had high negative predictive value for predicting proximal DVT formation, with cut-off values of 174 × 109/L and 2.18 mg/L, respectively.

Conclusion

BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2, femoral shaft fractures, high-energy injury, diabetes, injury-to-admission interval >24 h were independent risk factors for proximal DVT in patients with lower extremity and pelvic-acetabular fractures. Platelet count and D-dimer level were effective indicators for excluding proximal DVT occurrence. CHD decreased the risk of proximal DVT.

Is Circulating Vitamin D Status Associated with the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism? A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

BACKGROUND

Although vitamin D is antithrombotic, associations between serum vitamin D status and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remain inconsistent.

METHODS

We searched the EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases from inception to June 2022 to identify observational studies examining associations between vitamin D status and VTE risk in adults. The primary outcome presented as odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio (HR) was the association of vitamin D levels with the risk of VTE. Secondary outcomes included the impacts of vitamin D status (i.e., deficiency or insufficiency), study design, and the presence of neurological diseases on the associations.

RESULTS

Pooled evidence from a meta-analysis of sixteen observational studies, including 47648 individuals published from 2013 to 2021, revealed a negative relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of VTE either based on OR (1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37 to 2.20, p < 0.00001; I² = 31%, 14 studies, 16074 individuals) or HR (1.25, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.46, p = 0.006; I² = 0%, 3 studies, 37,564 individuals). This association remained significant in subgroup analyses of the study design and in the presence of neurological diseases. Compared to individuals with normal vitamin D status, an increased risk of VTE was noted in those with vitamin D deficiency (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.33 to 3.11) but not with vitamin D insufficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrated a negative association between serum vitamin D status and the risk of VTE. Further studies are required to investigate the potential beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on the long-term risk of VTE.

Gender-related differences in the association of serum levels of vitamin D with body mass index in northern Iranian population: the PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D (VD) insufficiency has now become a global problem throughout the world. The association between increasing body mass index (BMI) and VD insufficiency has attracted great attention in recent researches. The aim was to study if BMI was independently associated with serum 25-hydroxy VD in a large population-based study, specify by gender.

METHODS

Data on 9520 adults 35 years and older participating in PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS) were used. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy VD less than 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) was used as a measure of VD inadequacy. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to estimate the strength of the association between VD and BMI before and after adjusting for demographic factors and lifestyle variables.

RESULTS

After adjustment in male population, overweight (adjusted OR = 1.2, P < 0.05) and obese (adjusted OR = 1.4, P > 0.05) individuals were more likely to have VD inadequacy than normal weight counterparts. Moreover, there was a weak inverse linear association between BMI and serum 25 (OH) D levels in males (β = -0.14, P value > 0.05). In contrast, no significant associations between BMI and serum 25 (OH (D levels were observed in females. In male population, higher BMI were associated with lower serum vitamin 25 (OH) D levels.

CONCLUSIONS

However, association between BMI and VD level was not observed in female population. The suggestion of current study for public health was special consideration to serum VD levels in over weight and obese males.

Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality Independent of Whole-Body and Visceral Adiposity

INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with susceptibility to infectious disease. In this study, the association between COVID-19 outcomes and vitamin D levels in patients attending a COVID-19 reference center in Mexico City are examined.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and follow-up, laboratory measurements and a thoracic computerized tomography, including the measurement of epicardial fat thickness. Low vitamin D was defined as levels <20 ng/ml (<50nmol/L) and deficient Vitamin D as a level ≤12 ng/ml (<30 nmol/L).

RESULTS

Of the 551 patients included, low vitamin D levels were present in 45.6% and deficient levels in 10.9%. Deficient Vitamin D levels were associated with mortality (HR 2.11, 95%CI 1.24-3.58, p = 0.006) but not with critical COVID-19, adjusted for age, sex, body-mass index and epicardial fat. Using model-based causal mediation analyses the increased risk of COVID-19 mortality conferred by low vitamin D levels was partly mediated by its effect on D-dimer and cardiac ultrasensitive troponins. Notably, increased risk of COVID-19 mortality conferred by low vitamin D levels was independent of BMI and epicardial fat.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D deficiency (≤12 ng/ml or <30 nmol/L), is independently associated with COVID-19 mortality after adjustment for visceral fat (epicardial fat thickness). Low vitamin D may contribute to a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic state, increasing the risk for adverse COVID-19 outcomes.