Retrospective nested case-control study reveals vitamin D treatment reduces mortality and heart attack risk in deficient patients, suggesting target levels of at least 30 ng/mL.
Key Points
To determine the effects of vitamin D treatment versus nontreatment on myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality in vitamin D-deficient patients without a prior history of heart attacks.
Retrospective, observational, nested case-control study of 20,025 patients with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (<20 ng/mL) treated at the Veterans Health Administration between 1999 and 2018.
Categorized participants into three groups: Group A (untreated, ≤20 ng/mL), Group B (treated, 21–29 ng/mL), and Group C (treated, ≥30 ng/mL).
Compared outcomes using propensity score-weighted Cox proportional hazard models.
Achieving 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels >20 ng/mL and >30 ng/mL through treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to remaining untreated.
A significantly lower risk of myocardial infarction was observed exclusively in patients who maintained 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels ≥30 ng/mL (numerical hazard ratios and confidence intervals not reported in abstract).