The association between vitamin D deficiency and extrapulmonary tuberculosis: Case-control study

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical global public health challenge.
• Identifying risk factors, including vitamin D deficiency, is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) represents a significant proportion of TB cases, often associated with distinct risk profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of developing extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• To determine if vitamin D deficiency is an independent predictor of EPTB.
• To establish a potential cutoff value for vitamin D levels indicative of EPTB risk.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted involving 45 EPTB patients and 45 age- and gender-matched controls.
• Data on vitamin D levels were collected for all participants.
• Statistical analyses, including multivariate analysis, were performed to assess the association and predictive value.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D deficiency was significantly more prevalent in EPTB cases (80%) compared to controls (37.7%), with an odds ratio (OR) of 6.5.
• Mean vitamin D levels were substantially lower in EPTB cases (11.9 ng/mL) than in controls (22.3 ng/mL).
• Vitamin D deficiency emerged as an independent predictor of EPTB (OR = 6.13), with a cutoff value of 18.5 ng/mL.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is strongly and independently associated with extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• The findings suggest a potential role for vitamin D in EPTB pathogenesis.
• Further research is warranted to explore vitamin D supplementation as a preventive or therapeutic strategy for EPTB.