Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections among Sudanese Patients, Sudan

Abdulrahman Abdullahi Ishag, Roaa Abd Alhadi Alhussein, Abdelwaged Abdelrhman Omer, Malaz Abdulazim Musa

Asian Journal of Medicine and Health · pp. 148–161 · Published 22 Sep 2026

10.9734/ajmah/2026/v24i101449

Abstract

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections represent a significant cause of hospital admissions, patient morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Vitamin D plays a crucial regulatory role in immune function, and inadequate levels have been associated with increased vulnerability to respiratory pathogens and more severe clinical courses. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and lower respiratory tract infections in patients admitted to Atbara Teaching Hospital during 2026. Methods: A hospital-based observational analytical study was conducted over six months (February to July 2026) at Atbara Teaching Hospital in Sudan. The study enrolled 50 adult patients admitted with lower respiratory tract infections. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and case record form. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured, and vitamin D status was categorised as deficient, insufficient, or sufficient. Disease severity was evaluated using the CURB-65 scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 20.60 ± 15.69 ng/mL, ranging from 2.00 to 55.00 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency was identified in 23 patients (46.0%), insufficiency in 12 (24.0%), and sufficient levels in 15 (30.0%). Cough was reported by all participants (100.0%), followed by fever (76.0%) and sputum production (72.0%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (36.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (32.0%). Vitamin D status demonstrated significant associations with CURB-65 score (p = 0.012), length of hospital stay (p = 0.021), and the presence of comorbidities (p = 0.007). Although ICU admission, sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and mortality were not significantly associated with vitamin D status, these adverse outcomes occurred more frequently among vitamin D-deficient patients. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among patients with lower respiratory tract infections and demonstrated significant associations with increased disease severity, prolonged hospitalisation, and comorbid conditions. Assessment of vitamin D status should be considered in admitted patients, particularly those presenting with severe illness or chronic comorbidities.

Vitamin D deficiency lower respiratory tract infection community-acquired pneumonia 25-hydroxyvitamin D CURB-65 disease severity hospitalization comorbidities Sudan

References (24)

  1. 1 Vitamin D Deficiency [DOI]
  2. 2 Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 [DOI]
  3. 3 Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths [DOI]
  4. 4 Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data [DOI]
  5. 5 Epidemic influenza and vitamin D [DOI]
  6. 6 Antibiotic Prescription Rates for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in US Ambulatory Settings [DOI]
  7. 7 Vitamin D in the prevention of acute respiratory infection: Systematic review of clinical studies [DOI]
  8. 8 The importance of vitamin d metabolism as a potential prophylactic, immunoregulatory and neuroprotective treatment for COVID-19 [DOI]
  9. 9 Association between serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and community-acquired pneumonia: a case-control study [DOI]
  10. 10 Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of stratified aggregate data [DOI]
  11. 11 Vitamin D deficiency in community-acquired pneumonia: low levels of 1,25(OH)2 D are associated with disease severity [DOI]
  12. 12 Vitamin D deficiency in adults [DOI]
  13. 13 Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory infections in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis [DOI]
  14. 14 Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in hospitalized adults with community‐acquired pneumonia [DOI]
  15. 15 Serum level of vitamin D as a predictor for severity and outcome of pneumonia [DOI]
  16. 16 Therapies to Prevent Progression of COVID-19, Including Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, Zinc, and Vitamin D3 With or Without Intravenous Vitamin C: An International, Multicenter, Randomized Trial [DOI]
  17. 17 Vitamin D level is associated with mortality predictors in ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii [DOI]
  18. 18 Vitamin D Deficiency at Hospital Admission With Community-Acquired Pneumonia is Associated With Increased Risk of Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study [DOI]
  19. 19 Nutritional vitamin D deficiency rickets in Sudanese children [DOI]
  20. 20 Serum Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Symptoms of Pica Among Adolescent School Children in Northern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study [DOI]
  21. 21 Integrative health check reveals suboptimal levels in a number of vital biomarkers [DOI]
  22. 22 Correlation Between Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Severity of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients Assessed by Pneumonia Severity Index: An Observational Descriptive Study [DOI]
  23. 23 Unraveling the Impact of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) on Pediatric Respiratory Health in India [DOI]
  24. 24 Evaluation of Switch Over to Definitive Therapy from Empirical Therapy in Adult Patients Admitted with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections [DOI]

Cited by 0

No indexed citations yet.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

62

Page views

0

PDF downloads

63

Outbound clicks

0

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.