Association of Vitamin D Status with Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections Among Children Attending a Tertiary Care Centre: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) are common in children and may be associated with nutritional and immunological factors. This study evaluated the association between vitamin D status and recurrent respiratory tract infections among children attending a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 150 children aged 2–12 years over nine months in the Department of Pediatrics. Demographic and clinical information, including the frequency of respiratory infections, was recorded. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured, and vitamin D status was categorized as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Associations were assessed using appropriate statistical tests and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Among 150 children, 86 (57.3%) were boys and 64 (42.7%) were girls, with a mean age of 7.1 ± 2.9 years. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 61 (40.7%) children, insufficiency in 49 (32.7%), and sufficiency in 40 (26.7%). Children with vitamin D deficiency had a higher mean number of respiratory infection episodes than vitamin D-sufficient children (6.1 ± 1.8 vs. 3.8 ± 1.3; p<0.001). Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with frequent recurrent respiratory infections (adjusted OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.42–5.68; p=0.003).

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were common among children with recurrent respiratory tract infections and were associated with a higher frequency of infection episodes. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the temporal and causal relationship between vitamin D status and recurrent respiratory infections.