Low serum vitamin D is associated with increased mortality in elderly men: MrOS Sweden

• In elderly man, low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was associated with a substantial excess risk of death compared to 25(OH)D values greater than 50-70 nmol/l, but the association attenuated with time. The aim of the present study was to determine whether poor vitamin D status was associated with an increase in the risk of death in elderly men. We studied the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and the risk of death in 2,878 elderly men drawn from the population and recruited to the MrOS study in Sweden. Baseline data included general health and lifestyle measures and serum 25(OH)D measured by competitive RIA. Men were followed for up to 8.2 years (average 6.0 years). Mortality adjusted for comorbidities decreased by 5% for each SD increase in 25(OH)D overall (gradient of risk 1.05; 95% confidence interval 0.96-1.14). The predictive value of 25(OH)D for death was greatest below a threshold value of 50-70 nmol/l, was greatest at approximately 3 years after baseline and thereafter decreased with time. Low serum 25(OH)D is associated with a substantial excess risk of death compared to 25(OH)D values greater than 50-70 nmol/l, but the association attenuates with time. These findings, if causally related, have important implications for intervention in elderly men.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Comorbidity

Interaction with time

Mortality

Population studies

Serum

vitamin D

Spline Poisson

regression model

Serum vitamin D

Serum vitamin D

Spline Poisson regression model

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)