The relationship between serum vitamin d levels with allergic rhinitis incidence and total nasal symptom score in allergic rhinitis patients

BACKGROUND: Allergic diseases and vitamin D deficiency were found to have a relationship. However, there was limited number of studies on the relationship between vitamin D with allergic rhinitis (AR) and total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), particularly in determining the cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels which correlated to AR. AIM: As this particular study has never been conducted in Indonesia, the main objective of this study was to investigate this issue. METHODS: The research was conducted at Dr Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya in January 2017. A group of 30 subjects were recruited using consecutive sampling. Levels of serum vitamin D were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method while the total nasal symptom scores were obtained by accumulating all the nasal symptoms. Data of serum vitamin D levels and TNSS were analysed statistically with the Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: It was found that the mean of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (9.13 ng/mL) of the AR group was significantly lower than the non-AR group (26.22 ng/mL) (P = 0.000). The vitamin D cut-off points which correlated to AR was about 12.83 ng/mL (sensitivity = 80%; specificity = 100%). A Pearson correlation test found a strong, negative correlation between vitamin D levels and TNSS (P = 0.000; r =-0.800). CONCLUSION: There was a strong, negative correlation between serum vitamin D levels with AR and TNSS. The cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels correlated to AR were approximately12.83 ng/mL. Thus, further research needs to be conducted.