The vast majority of studies reported inverse associations between 25(OH)D concentration and all-cause mortality .
This association appeared to be non-linear , with progressively lower mortality with increasing 25(OH)D up to a point , beyond which there was no further decrease .
There is moderate evidence that vitamin D status is inversely associated with cancer mortality and death due to respiratory diseases , while for cardiovascular mortality , there is weak evidence of an association in observational studies , which is not supported by the data from intervention or Mendelian r and omization studies .
Epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality , but it is unclear whether this is explained by reverse causation , and if there are specific causes of death for which vitamin D might be important .
Vitamin D deficiency in elderly people in Swedish nursing homes is associated with increased mortality.
OBJECTIVE Institutionalised elderly people at northern latitudes may be at elevated risk for vitamin D deficiency . In addition to osteoporosis-related disorders , vitamin D deficiency may influence several medical conditions conferring an increased mortality risk . The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with mortality . DESIGN The Study of Health and Drugs in the Elderly ( SHADES ) is a prospect i ve cohort study among elderly people ( > 65 years ) in 11 nursing homes in Sweden . METHODS We analysed the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ ( 25(OH)D₃ ) at baseline . Vital status of the subjects was ascertained and hazard ratios ( HRs ) for mortality according to 25(OH)D₃ quartiles were calculated . RESULTS We examined 333 study participants with a mean follow-up of 3 years . A total of 147 ( 44 % ) patients died within this period . Compared with the subjects in Q4 ( 25(OH)D₃ > 48 nmol/l ) , HR ( with 95 % CI ) for mortality was 2.02 ( 1.31 - 3.12 ) in Q1 ( 25(OH)D₃ < 29 nmol/l ) ( P<0.05 ) ; 2.03 ( 1.32 - 3.14 ) in Q2 ( 25(OH)D₃ 30 - 37 nmol/l ) ( P<0.05 ) and 1.6 ( 1.03 - 2.48 ) in Q3 ( 25(OH)D₃ 38 - 47 nmol/l ) ( P<0.05 ) . The mean 25(OH)D₃ concentration was 40.2 nmol/l ( S.D. 16.0 ) and 80 % had 25(OH)D₃ below 50 nmol/l . The vitamin D levels decreased from baseline to the second and third measurements . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent and associated with increased mortality among the elderly in Swedish nursing homes . Strategies are needed to prevent , and maybe treat , vitamin D deficiency in the elderly in nursing homes and the benefit of vitamin D supplementation should be evaluated in r and omised clinical trials
The vast majority of studies reported inverse associations between 25(OH)D concentration and all-cause mortality .
This association appeared to be non-linear , with progressively lower mortality with increasing 25(OH)D up to a point , beyond which there was no further decrease .
There is moderate evidence that vitamin D status is inversely associated with cancer mortality and death due to respiratory diseases , while for cardiovascular mortality , there is weak evidence of an association in observational studies , which is not supported by the data from intervention or Mendelian r and omization studies .
Epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality , but it is unclear whether this is explained by reverse causation , and if there are specific causes of death for which vitamin D might be important .