PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CHRONIC ECZEMA SEVERITY IN ADULTS
Keywords:
Adult, Chronic Disease, Eczema, Prevalence, SCORAD Index, Severity of Illness Index, Vitamin DAbstract
Background: Vitamin D supports immune regulation and skin barrier integrity. Low levels have been linked to certain inflammatory disorders. Persistent eczema affects many adults and reduces quality of life, although the connection between vitamin D status and severity in adults is unclear.
Objective: To estimate the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and examine its relation to severity in adults with longstanding eczema.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in Lahore over four months, 110 adults with chronic eczema were included. Demographic and clinical details were recorded. Severity was quantified using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was assayed by chemiluminescence and grouped as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were applied; p<0.05 indicated significance.
Results: Mean participant age was 35.2 ± 9.8 years, with 51.8% male. Vitamin D deficiency affected 50 patients (45.5%), insufficiency 41 (37.3%), and sufficiency 19 (17.2%). Overall mean SCORAD score was 40.6 ± 14.1. By vitamin D category, mean SCORAD scores were 39.4 ± 13.1 in deficient patients, 41.4 ± 13.8 in those with insufficiency, and 39.1 ± 16.2 in patients with sufficient levels. No significant correlation existed between serum vitamin D concentration and SCORAD score (r=0.02, p>0.05).
Conclusion: Suboptimal vitamin D status is frequent in adults with chronic eczema. However, vitamin D levels showed no association with disease severity. These data suggest that, while deficiency often accompanies eczema, adult disease severity depends on other influences beyond vitamin D status.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul Wahab Ali , Abdullah Ayoob , Naheed Shah (Author)
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