The Role of Vitamin D in the Relationship Between Gender and Deep Vein Thrombosis Among Stroke Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Accumulating evidence had demonstrated that females had a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) than males, but the mechanism was still unknown. Vitamin D was found to play an essential role in DVT, and gender may influence the serum vitamin D levels. This study aimed to explore whether vitamin D played a role in the gender difference in DVT.Materials and Methods: A total of 444 patients with acute stroke were recruited, which were divided into the DVT group (n = 222) and the non-DVT group (n = 222). Serum vitamin D levels were measured after admission and were split into three categories, including deficiency (<50 nmol/L), insufficiency (52.5–72.5 nmol/L), and sufficiency (more than 75 nmol/L). Hierarchical regression analysis was adopted to analyze the relationship between gender and DVT, controlling the confounding factors.Results: Females showed a higher proportion of DVT than males (60.7 vs. 42.5%, p < 0.001), and lower serum vitamin D levels than males (53.44 ± 16.45 vs. 69.43 ± 23.14, p < 0.001). Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were lower in the DVT group than in the non-DVT group (59.44 ± 19.61 vs. 66.24 ± 23.86, p < 0.001). Besides, the DVT group showed a lower proportion of vitamin D sufficiency than the non-DVT group (21.2 vs. 32.9%, p < 0.05). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that females had 2.083-fold (p < 0.001, unadjusted model) and 1.413-fold (p = 0.155, adjusted model) risk to develop DVT. In addition, the sufficiency status of vitamin D showed an independent protective effect on DVT (unadjusted model OR, 0.504, p = 0.004; adjusted model OR, 0.686, p = 0.011).Conclusion: Females had a higher risk of DVT than males, and vitamin D may play an essential role in this relationship. Further studies are needed to explore whether vitamin D supplementation could reduce DVT risk in stroke patients, especially females.

Serum Vitamin D levels are associated with increased COVID-19 severity and mortality independent of whole-body and visceral adiposity

“…Finally, thrombotic complications are common in such patients; vitamin D is also involved in the regulation of thrombotic pathways (31,32). The mechanisms through which Vitamin D may influence pro-thrombotic pathways is closely related to its anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce endothelial activation and oxidative stress (33). In our study, low vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients were related to inflammatory, pro-thrombotic and metabolic markers of severity, confirming observations from previous studies.…”

Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality Independent of Whole-Body and Visceral Adiposity

“…Finally, thrombotic complications are common in such patients; vitamin D is also involved in the regulation of thrombotic pathways ( 31 , 32 ). The mechanisms through which Vitamin D may influence pro-thrombotic pathways is closely related to its anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce endothelial activation and oxidative stress ( 33 ). In our study, low vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients were related to inflammatory, pro-thrombotic and metabolic markers of severity, confirming observations from previous studies.…”

Prevalence and risk factors for proximal deep vein thrombosis at admission in patients with traumatic fractures: a multicenter retrospective study

“…Our study showed that age was not associated with proximal DVT occurrence, which is consistent with the findings of Nathan et al They found that age was not a risk factor for proximal thrombosis ( 18 ). Studies have shown that female sex is an independent risk factor for DVT ( 19 , 20 ). First, platelet reactivity is significantly higher in women than in men ( 21 ), and second, the common iliac vein (CIV) is more likely to be compressed in women ( 22 , 23 ), leading to a higher incidence of DVT.…”