Relationship between Vitamin D Level and Recurrent Wheezy Chest in Pediatric Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51985/JBUMDC2025772Keywords:
Paediatrics, Vitamin D deficiency, wheezingAbstract
Objective: To determine the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and recurrent wheezy chest in children aged
6-36 months.
Study Design and Study Setting: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics. Khyber Teaching
Hospital, Peshawar, from August 2024 to February 2025.
Methodology: Seventy children (35 cases with =3 wheezing episodes in the last year; 35 age-matched controls without
wheeze) were evaluated. They were enrolled after excluding those with chronic lung disease, allergies, or recent vitamin
D supplementation. Serum 25-OH-vitamin D <20 ng/mL defined deficiency. The sample size was calculated to have 80%
power and an á = 0.05. Data was analysed with IBM SPSS 25.0; an independent t-test and X2 test were applied; association
was quantified by odds ratio (OR) with CI 95%.
Results: Mean age was 16.7 ± 7.0 D in cases (18.8 ± 5.9 ng/mL) was lower than in controls (23.6 ± 5.8 ng/mL; p = 0.001).
Vitamin D deficiency was present in 66% cases versus 37% controls (p = 0.017). Children with deficiency had 3.24-fold
higher odds ratio of recurrent wheeze (95% CI 1.28-8.21; p = 0.013).
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with recurrent wheezy chest in early childhood. Screening
and supplementation may decrease the wheezing burden in this age group.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ikram Ullah, Sabir Khan, Zia Muhammad, Muhammad Shabir, Aimal Khan, Arooj Khan (Author)
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