DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i02.062

Pages: 788-792

25-hydroxy vitamin D is considered to be the best indicator of vitamin D status in those with normal renal function and reflects the circulating substrate for the tightly regulated hydroxylation into the active hormonal form of vitamin D [1]. More recently, vitamin D deficiency has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and overall mortality in general population. It is well established that vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness precede and contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and both are predictors of long term morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D effects the vascular wall by regulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and exerts anti-proliferative effects on vascular smooth muscle. Arterial stifffnes index is a novel measure of arterial stiffness that independently predicts cardiovascular mortality. Previously two cross sectional studies observed an inverse relationship between serum 25 (OH) vit. D level and arterial stiffness [12, 16]. Several other studies have presented inconsistent findings [12-15]. Also these studies had been conducted in urban centers, therefore this study was planned to find the association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D level with arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among hypertensive patients of age groups 18-69 years, attending general medicine OPD in BPS GMC, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat. A data of total 35 patients was collected over a period of 2 months. It was seen that arterial stiffness index was comparatively higher in patients with lower 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. Our study showed a negative correlation between arterial stiffness index and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels among the newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients. So, vitamin D insufficiency can increase cardiovascular risk in untreated patients with hypertension.