Abstract P111: Relationship of Vitamin D Status to Cardiac Arrhythmias in Veterans

Abstract

Relationship of Vitamin D status to cardiac arrhythmias in Veterans Islam T. MD MPH, Bailey B. PhD, Ferdous C. MD, Finton C. MD, Manning T. and Peiris A.N. MD PhD Introduction. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread and is associated with coronary artery disease. However, few studies have examined the link between Vitamin D status and cardiac arrhythmias. The present study was undertaken to explore this relationship. Method. We studied 34580 veterans in the southeastern USA and evaluated the relationship of Vitamin D status to both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias by retrospective chart review. Approximately 34.8 % (12030) patient were Vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml). This group was more likely to be younger, have a significantly greater body mass index, more likely to be female and belong to a racial minority when compared to the Vitamin D replete group. The Vitamin D deficient group was also more likely to have hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension and be tobacco users. Result. The presence of arrhythmias varied between 0.3 % (ventricular) to 25 % (Any arrhythmia plus heart block). Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias were significantly greater in the vitamin D deficient group. Vitamin D deficiency remained significantly associated with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias after adjusting for other variables through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating a significant link between vitamin D status and cardiac arrhythmias in Veterans. Vitamin D remained a significant predictor of this relationship even after adjusting for other variables. Emerging evidence suggest that Vitamin D replacement can improve cardiac ejection fraction. The potential for Vitamin D replacement to reduce an underlying arrythmogenic propensity is an exciting area for future research. Adjusted logistic regression model predicting atrial and ventricular arrhythmia by vitamin D level. Atrial Arrhythmia Present Absent p-value Vitamin D treated as Continuous variable, beta estimate -0.006 0 (ref.) 0.001 Categorical (low versus replete), odds ratio 1.18 1.00 (ref.) <0.001 Ventricular Arrhythmia Present Absent p-value Vitamin D treated as Continuous variable, beta estimate -0.020 0 (ref.) 0.042 Categorical (low versus replete), odds ratio 1.48 1.00 (ref.) 0.055