VITAMIN D STATUS AMONG GEORGIAN CHILDREN WITH HIGH ACUTE RESPIRATORY MORBIDITY

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent endocrine disorder globally.
• Limited data exists on vitamin D status within the Georgian population.
• Acute respiratory morbidity is a significant health concern in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vitamin D status in Georgian children.
• To compare vitamin D levels between children with and without recurrent respiratory infections.
• To establish baseline data for vitamin D levels in a vulnerable pediatric population in Georgia.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 277 children aged 3 months to 15 years.
• Two cohorts were established: 147 children with recurrent respiratory infections and 130 healthy controls.
• Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured in all participants from Tbilisi and Rustavi.

Main Results:

• Children with recurrent respiratory infections exhibited significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared to healthy controls (p<0.05).
• Mean vitamin D levels in children with respiratory infections ranged from 12.43±5.27 ng/ml to 14.47±5.44 ng/ml across age groups.
• Healthy children, especially adolescents in rural areas, showed a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (<20 ng/ml).

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with high morbidity from respiratory infections in Georgian children.
• A significant proportion of healthy Georgian children, particularly adolescents, suffer from vitamin D insufficiency.
• Public health initiatives may be needed to address vitamin D deficiency in Georgian children to mitigate respiratory illness.