Vitamin D to prevent exacerbations of COPD: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomised controlled trials

Study answer

What this study found

Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the overall rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations. In the pooled IPD analysis, the adjusted incidence rate ratio was 0.94 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.13; p=0.52), and the two-step analysis was similar at 0.94 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.12; p=0.51). A prespecified subgroup analysis showed benefit only in participants with baseline 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L, where the aIRR was 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.84; n=87; p=0.006), while those with baseline 25(OH)D ≥25 nmol/L had no effect (aIRR 1.04, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.27; p for interaction=0.015). No significant effects were seen for…

Study & population

Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in adults with COPD.

Intervention

Oral vitamin D3 supplementation was tested in three randomized placebo-controlled COPD trials, with dosing regimens that differed by study: 100,000 IU monthly for 12 months, 120,000 IU every 2 months for 12 months, or 1200 IU daily for 6 months.

Key limitation

Only three trials contributed IPD, with 469 participants overall and a much smaller vitamin D deficient subgroup, limiting precision and subgroup robustness.

View full study detailsView sourceOpen PDF

Original abstract