Assessment of vitamin D deficiency and its association with recurrent respiratory infections in children
Submission: 16 November 2025 | Acceptance: 26 January 2026 | Publication: 13 April 2026
1Dr Qasim Raza, 2Dr Kamran Safdar, 3Dr Tahmoor Ghori, 4Waqas Ali, 5Dr Hub E Ali, Dr Asad Jahangir
1Assistant Professor, PIMS Islamabad
2Associate Professor, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore
3Bolan Medical College, Quetta
4Associate Professor, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital
5Assistant professor, Mayo Hospital, Lahore
6Assistant professor, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
ABSTRACT:
Background: Vitamin D deficiency had been recognized as a widespread nutritional concern among children and had been increasingly linked to impaired immune responses. Evidence had suggested that inadequate vitamin D levels might predispose children to recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs), which represented a significant burden on pediatric healthcare systems.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with recurrent respiratory infections among children presenting to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.
Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study had been conducted at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, over a 12-month period from November 2024 to October 2025. A total of 100 children aged 1–12 years had been included. Serum vitamin D levels had been measured using standardized laboratory assays and categorized as deficient, insufficient, or sufficient. Data on the frequency and type of recurrent respiratory infections had been collected through clinical records and caregiver interviews. Statistical analyses had been performed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and RRIs, using chi-square tests and logistic regression models.
Results: The findings showed that vitamin D deficiency had been prevalent in 58% of the study population, while 27% had been insufficient and only 15% had adequate levels. Children with vitamin D deficiency had demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of RRIs compared to those with normal levels (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis had indicated that vitamin D-deficient children were nearly three times more likely to experience RRIs. Moreover, lower vitamin D levels had been associated with increased severity and longer duration of infections.
Conclusion: The study concluded that vitamin D deficiency had been highly prevalent among children and had shown a strong association with recurrent respiratory infections. These findings emphasized the importance of early detection and correction of vitamin D deficiency as a potential strategy to reduce the burden of RRIs in pediatric populations.
Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, recurrent respiratory infections, children, immunity, pediatrics, Shifa International Hospital.