Effect of serum vitamin A and E on children with recurrent respiratory tract infection based on propensity score matching / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the association between vitamin A, E and recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) in children.Methods:1 853 children with RRTIs and 2 695 health children were separately selected as cases and controls. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were conducted to reducing confounding bias between groups. Blood samples were collected to measure serum levels of vitamins A and E by high performance liquid chromatographie (HPLC). Paired logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios ( OR) and 95% confidence intervals ( CI) to evaluate the association of RRTIs with the serum levels of vitamin A and E. Results:After propensity score estimation and 1∶1 matching, the study cohort included 1 507 cases with RRTIs and 1 507 health children as controls. The main characteristics between the two groups were all not significantly different after matching ( P>0.05). The average levels of vitamin A in two groups were different ( P<0.05). Paired logistic regression analysis showed that greater serum levels of vitamin A had a lower risk of RRTIs ( OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.22-0.98), similarly, deficiency of vitamin A would also increase the risk of RRTIs ( OR=1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.38). The statistical difference was not found between VitE and RRTIs ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The serum levels of vitamin E didn′t have a statistically significant association with RRTIs. However, we observed an obvious association between vitamin A and RRTIs. Hence vitamin A clinical monitoring and supplementation are vital for preventing and treating RRTIs.