The correlation between serum vitamin D and urinary tract infection in pregnant woman: A case control study

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy is common due to a unique state of physiological, immunological and hormonal changes, increased vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract obstruction by the uterus. Vitamin D is important for human health, being more crucial during pregnancy. A third of the population are estimated to suffer from Vitamin D deficiency. Studies recently have been focused on the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system, both the innate and adaptive. Vitamin D has been found to enhance the innate immune system Aim: We aim in this study to investigate the link between serum vitamin D levels and UTI in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: A case control study conducted between September 2020 and June 2021 at the prenatal care clinic of the Kasr Al-Ainy University Hospital. The study population consisted of 200 eligible pregnant women, screened and recruited from pregnant women seeking management for symptomatic UTI or for routine prenatal care. Results: In total of 200 pregnant women referred to prenatal care clinics, 100 pregnant women with UTI (case group) and 100 pregnant women without UTI (control group). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the cases compared to the control group (14.51 ± 5.32 versus 18.7 ± 7.05; p <0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis shows the association between adjusted risk factors (age, BMI, education, frequency of intercourse and serum vitamin D levels) and UTI. Deficient serum vitamin D levels was significantly associated with a risk of UTI in pregnant women (OR = 0.221; 95% CI: 0.100-0.487) after adjusting for these confounders Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency has a significant and direct relationship with the prevalence of UTI in pregnant women. RCTs are needed to assess the optimum vitamin D threshold, and to assess levels that could prevent the complication of UTI in pregnant women.