Correlation between serum vitamin D level and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D level and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred patients with acute cerebral infarction within 48 h and 60 healthy subjects were selected. The serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level was measured. The patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into vitamin D sufficient group, vitamin D insufficient group and vitamin D deficiency group according to the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level. The National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) before treatment and 14 d after treatment was evaluated, and this result reflected short-term prognosis; the long-term prognosis was evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3 months after treatment. Results The serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level in patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects: (14.21 ± 0.98) μg/L vs. (22.43 ± 1.01) μg/L, and there was statistical difference (t = 3.95, P = 0.012). The patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into 3 groups according to the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level: vitamin D sufficient group (19 cases), vitamin D insufficient group (28 cases) and vitamin D deficiency group (53 cases). The NIHSS before treatment and 14 d after treatment in vitamin D sufficient group was significantly lower than that in vitamin D insufficient group and vitamin D deficiency group: (7.03 ± 1.82) scores vs. (10.21 ± 2.03) and (14.35 ± 2.96) scores, (2.04 ± 1.86) scores vs. (5.21 ± 2.28) and (10.38 ± 2.34) scores, and that in vitamin D insufficient group was significantly lower than that in vitamin D deficiency group, and there were statistical differences (P <0.01). The Pearson correlation analysis result showed that the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level was negatively correlated with NIHSS scores (r = -1.738, P = 0.031). The short-term total effective rate in vitamin D sufficient group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D insufficient group and vitamin D deficiency group: 17/19 vs. 67.9% (19/28) and 47.2% (25/53), and that in vitamin D insufficient group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D deficiency group, and there were statistical differences (P <0.05). The long-term good prognosis rate in vitamin D sufficient group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D insufficient group and vitamin D deficiency group: 18/19 vs. 75.0% (21/28) and 50.9% (27/53), and that in vitamin D insufficient group was significantly higher than that in vitamin D deficiency group, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). Conclusions The serum vitamin D level is significantly decreased in patients with acute cerebral infarction. It is negatively correlated with NIHSS scores. And it is important to judge prognosis. Key words: Brain infarction; Vitamin D; Prognosis; National Institutes of Health stroke scale