Association of serum vitamin D levels and urinary tract infection in pregnant women: A case control study.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common during pregnancy and can cause serious complications for the mother and fetus. Vitamin D, is known to have an effect on the urothelium, with immunomodulatory capacity against bacterial infection. This study explored the association between serum vitamin D levels and urinary tract infections in pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: In this case control study, 187 participants including, 97 pregnant women diagnosed as a symptomatic UTI (case group) and 90 matched healthy pregnant women (control group) were consecutively enrolled from prenatal care clinic of Imam Reza Hospital in Urmia, North West of Iran. The two groups were matched for trimester and parity, and sexual intercourse. Blood samples were collected from both groups. Chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) was used to evaluate the serum vitamin D levels. We used a binary multivariate unconditional logistic regression approach to evaluate the association between UTI and vitamin D and risk factor of the UTI. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL) was diagnosed in 85.7% of case group and 52.2% of control group. The serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in pregnant women in the case group compared to the control group (12.7 ±â€¯5.9 ng/ml vs 26.05 ±â€¯10.37; p < 0.001). Pregnant women in case group with acute pyelonephritis had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than those with Cystitis (p < 0.05). The serum vitamin D level of less than 20 ng/ml was the only factor associated with UTI after adjusting for all the confounders in multiple binary logistic regression modeling (AdjOR = 3.67; 95% of CI: 1.19-6.24; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women with vitamin D deficiencies are at increased risk of urinary tract infections during pregnancy. However, further studies are essential to confirm these observed results.

Predictors of Depression in Iranian Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Depression is a major complication of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Lifestyle modification can prevent it. This study aimed to determine the predictors of depression in women with PCOS. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 174 women who attended in infertility clinics in Urmia-Iran, 2015. The data were collected through socio-demographic, Beck Depression Inventory-II and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-2 questionnaires. The mean (standard deviation) of total score of the depression was obtained 27.4 (10.5) in the range 0-63. The mean (SD) of total score of the health promoting lifestyle was obtained 2.2 (0.3) out of 4. Based on multivariate linear regression, the variables of nutrition, interpersonal relationships, spiritual growth, stress management, BMI, the perceived stress of the disease, the first supporter and menstrual bleeding were predictors of the depression. Given the high prevalence of depression in PCOS patients and its relationship with health-promoting behaviors, lifestyle modification to reduce depression is necessary.

The predictors of quality of life in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorder that may be effective in reducing the quality of life. This study aimed to determine the predictors of quality of life in women with PCOS. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 174 women with PCOS who attended in public and private fertility clinics in Urmia (West Azerbaijan, Iran), 2015. The data were collected through the questionnaires of sociodemographic and obstetrics characteristics, quality of life and Beck depression inventory-II. Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate the effect rate of the independent variables (depression and sociodemographic characteristics) on the dependent variable (quality of life). In this study, the mean (standard deviation) of total score of the quality of life was obtained, 45.8 (11.3) in the range 0-100. The highest and lowest mean scores were in the subdomains of weight and hirsutism. The variables of depression, body mass index, woman's job, menstrual cycle intervals, and sexual satisfaction were predictors of the quality of life in women with PCOS. Because of various effective factors on quality of life in these women such as depression, necessary strategies must be implemented to control these factors and improve the quality of life.