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Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Case Control Study
David Epstein1,2, Anders Kvanta1,2, Pelle G Lindqvist1,3,4
1a Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
Insights
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) patients often have vitamin D deficiency. While overall vitamin D levels did not differ significantly from controls, younger CRVO patients showed lower levels, suggesting a potential link.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is seasonally associated, suggesting environmental factors like vitamin D may play a role.
- Vitamin D deficiency is a growing public health concern with potential systemic implications.
- Understanding the relationship between vitamin D and CRVO can inform preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients diagnosed with CRVO.
- To compare vitamin D levels in CRVO patients against a matched control group.
- To explore potential age-related differences in vitamin D status among CRVO patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, matched controlled study involving 72 CRVO patients and 144 controls.
- Participants were recruited from St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Blood samples were analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels.
Main Results:
- Over half of CRVO patients (51.4%) exhibited vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l), compared to 39.3% in controls.
- No statistically significant difference in mean 25(OH)D levels was observed between the CRVO group (55.3 nmol/l) and the control group (59.8 nmol/l).
- CRVO patients under 75 years demonstrated significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than their matched controls (p = 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in individuals with CRVO.
- Overall vitamin D status did not significantly differ between CRVO patients and controls.
- Younger CRVO patients (<75 years) showed a significant association with lower vitamin D levels, warranting further investigation.
Purpose:
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) has been shown to occur more often in winter/spring season. We aimed to evaluate if patients with CRVO have more vitamin D deficiency compared to matched controls.
Methods:
Prospective match controlled study of 72 patients with CRVO and 144 matched controls. All new CRVO cases presenting at St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden during the study period were approached to participate. Statistics Sweden provided randomly selected controls matched for age, gender, and season. The first 18 cases of CRVO and 36 controls for each of the four seasons were included and blood was drawn for 25-OH vitamin D analysis (25(OH)D).
Results:
About half of the patients (51.4%) in the CRVO group had vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l] as compared to 39.3% in the control group [odds ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91-2.94]. The mean concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were 55.3 nmol/l (95% CI 48.4-62.2) in the study group and 59.8 nmol/l (95% CI 55.4-64.2) in the control group (p = 0.28). In stratified analysis, the CRVO patients under 75 years had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than the matched controls (47.8 nmol/l vs. 59.0 nmol/l, p = 0.02).
Conclusions:
Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with CRVO. No significant differences in vitamin deficiency or 25(OH)D levels were found in comparison to the control group. However, the CRVO patients under 75 years had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels as compared to the control group.
