Nneoma Kwemtochukwu Ani-Ugwu, Aloy Okechukwu Ugwu, Anas Funtua Rabiu, Chioma Ethel Obodo, John Ifeanyi Achara, Kayode Ayodeji Adefemi, Sunusi Garba Rimi, Chidinma Magnus Nwogu, Adebayo Williams Awoniyi, Muiz Alli Adenekan, Sunday Isaac Omisakin
Lokman Hekim Health Sciences - 2025;5(3):236-241
Asthma is a heterogeneous disease usually caused by chronic airway inflammation. It is defined by the history of respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough that vary over time and intensity, together with a variable expiratory airflow limitation.[1-3] Approximately 300 million people have asthma worldwide, and it is likely that by 2025 a further 100 million may be affected.[3] The global increase in asthma prevalence is due to an increase of asthma in low/middle-income countries which is driven by an increase in urbanization, atopic sensitization, and adoption of the Western lifestyle.[4-7] In Nigeria, approximately 13 million are estimated to have asthma, which is likely among the highest in Africa making it a public health priority and a burden to the already fragile health system.[6,7] The role of vitamin D in asthma pathogenesis and asthma control is of considerable interest recently.[8-10] Some studies have evaluated the importance of serum vitamin D levels in the aetiopathogenesis of asthma, asthma severity and its control.[11,12] However, most of the findings have been inconclusive.[12-16] While some of these studies reported an improved asthma control from vitamin D supplementation others found no association.[11-17] There is limited evidence in our environment on the association between serum vitamin D levels and asthma control. Even the available studies were done in pediatrics population,[8,14,18,19] hence this study aims to find out the association of serum vitamin D and level of asthma control in adult asthmatic patients in Lagos.
