Low levels of Vitamin D among Kidney stone disease patients linked to higher all-cause mortality

A recent study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology has concluded that patients with kidney stone disease (KSD)having insufficient serum 25(OH)D concentrations are at a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

This prospective cohort study included 2,916 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants. All causes of death and cause-specific mortality were identified using The National Death Index (NDI). Multivariate Cox regression models calculated Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and all-cause mortality in patients with kidney stone disease, as the effects of a deficiency in 25-hydroxyvitamin D on these patients are not well understood.

Key results of this study are:

• During the 18,859 person-years of follow-up, 375 fatalities occurred.
• Eighty-three deaths were from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 79 from cancer.
• At baseline, individuals with higher blood 25(OH)D concentrations had lower glucose, glycohemoglobin, CRP, and insulin levels and higher HDL cholesterol levels.
• When compared to the group with the lowest 25(OH)D concentrations, those with serum 25(OH)D concentrations ≥75 nmol/L had hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.48 for all-cause mortality.
• The association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and all-cause mortality in KSD patients was non-linear.
• When serum 25(OH)D concentrations are below 27.7 nmol/L, each unit-nmol/L increase is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death from all causes.

They said, "Our study revealed that KSD patients with inadequate serum 25(OH)D levels were more likely to experience all-cause mortality. Hence, it is essential to maintain sufficient blood 25(OH)D levels and prevent 25(OH)D insufficiency in KSD patients to increase their lifespan."

Reference:

Gao, Meng, et al. "Association of Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations With All-cause Mortality Among Individuals With Kidney Stone Disease: the NHANES Database Prospective Cohort Study." Frontiers in Endocrinology, vol. 14, 2023, p. 1207943.