Association of Chronic Urticaria with Decreased Vitamin D Levels in Female Patients visiting Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate association of chronic urticaria with decreased serum vitamin D levels in female patients. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021. Methodology: Seventy female patients with chronic urticaria (Group-1) and 70 female age matched patients without urticaria (Group-2) were enrolled in the study by nonprobability sampling technique. Both groups were stratified into 3 age based groups: children (0-18 years), young adults (19-40 years) and middle aged (40-60 years). Inclusion criteria comprised of patients of either sex and of age less than 60 years showing urticarial symptoms at least twice a week for more than 6 weeks. Serum vitamin D level was evaluated by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). A deficiency in vitamin D was defined as serum 25-(OH)D concentrations <30 ng/mL. Results: Out of 140 patients, 105(75%) had normal vitamin D levels (group 1=48(45.7%) & group-2=57(54.3%)) whereas 35(25%) were deficient; group 1=22(62.8%) & group 2=13(37.2%) (p-value =0.07). In the children group, 13 out of 15(86.6%) were sufficient whereas 2(13%) were deficient (p-value=0.17). In the young adults group, 40 out of 58(68.9%) were sufficient and 18(31%) were deficient (p-value=0.06). In the middle aged group, 52 out of 67(77.6%) were sufficient and 15(22%) were deficient (p-value=0.82). Conclusion: There is no association of chronic urticaria with decreased serum vitamin D levels.