Assessment of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis-A Comparative Cross Sectional Study in a Teritiary Care Centre in Kolar

Tuberculosis remains as one of the deadliest disease affecting humankind and vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem. The evidence is increasingly pointing towards increased susceptibility to TB among individuals with vitamin D deficiency and worse disease progression if infected with TB. Hence the current study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and to compare it with non-tuberculosis cases. This study was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted in R.L. Jalappa hospital among 100 individuals divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 70 sputum positive pulmonary TB case and group 2 consisted of 30 community healthy controls matched for age and gender. The subjects were investigated for biochemical parameters and serum vitamin D level using Electro-chemiluminescence Immuno Assay (ECLIA). The mean age of TB and non-TB cases was 52.53 ± 15.68 years and 56.07 ± 10.06 years respectively. Mean vitamin D level in the study population were 29.51± 28.19 ng/ml. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 54 (77.14%) cases with TB and in 10 (33.33%) non-TB cases. The mean difference in serum albumin (3.89 ± 0.89 g/dl vs 3.42 ± 0.76 g/dl); calcium levels (7.3 ± 1.59 mg/dl vs 8.5 ± 1.37 mg/dl) and vitamin D level (22.02 ± 23.8 ng/ml vs 47 ± 30.22 ng/ml) were statistically significant (p value < 0.01) across the group. This study concludes that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of tuberculosis. This recommends the screening for vitamin D deficiency and encourages vitamin D supplementation for all tuberculosis patients.