The Serum Level of Vitamin D and its Association with Disease Severity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and destruction of the articular tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and disease severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
In this descriptive-analytic-sectional study was conducted in the city of Qom, Iran, 120 patients were enrolled based on the evaluation and consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria using convenience sampling method. The activity or severity of disease was determined based on the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) criteria.
Findings: 92 patients (76.7%) were women and the mean age of the patients was 48.26 ± 13.28 years. The serum vitamin D level was lower than normal in 19 patients (15.8%). The severity of the disease was reported as severe in 54 patients (45%), average in 51 patients (42.5%) and minor in 15 patients (12.5%). There was no significant relationship between the disease activity based on criteria and serum level of vitamin D (P > 0.05).
According to the frequency and importance and effects of rheumatoid arthritis, more and more accurate and complete studies should be done in this area; then, the health departments can conclude details of preventive and curative approach in the context of the relationship between vitamin D and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.