Comparison of Vitamin D Status Between Infants With Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Infants With Other Congenital Heart Diseases

Background: Vitamin D plays an essential role in calcium homeostasis and cardiac muscle function, hence the significance of the screening, diagnosing, preventing, and treating of vitamin D deficiency (VDD). In children susceptible to VDD, cardiomyopathy is a likely occurrence. We sought to compare vitamin D status between children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and children with other congenital heart diseases. Methods: This observational case-control study, conducted from 2018 through 2019 in Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, compared vitamin D status between a case group, consisting of 33 infants with DCM, and a control group, composed of 35 infants with other congenital heart diseases. The serum levels of iron, magnesium, calcium, albumin, parathyroid hormone, and 25(OH)D3 were measured in all the children. Results: The study population consisted of 68 infants (31 males and 37 females) at a mean age of 64.96 +/- 51 days. The DCM group presented with a significantly higher incidence of VDD (27.3%) than the control group (8.6%). Multivariable-adjusted analysis for DCM based on the tertiles of vitamin D levels revealed an odds ratio of 0.25 (95% CI, 0.06 to 1.01) for tertile 3 (>24 nmol/ L) compared with an odds ratio of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.24 to 3.30) for tertile 2 (16-24 nmol/L) and tertile 1 (<16 nmol/ L) designated as the reference (P=0.05), indicating near statistical significance. Conclusions: In assessing a child with newly diagnosed DCM or other congenital heart diseases, VDD and electrolyte imbalances should be promptly screened to avert the precipitating decompensation of the cardiovascular function.