Study on the effect of serum vitamin A and E on children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia based on propensity score matching

Objective To explore the association between Vitamin A, E and mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children. Methods 153 children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and 653 health children were selected as cases and controls, respectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis were conducted to reducing confounding bias between groups. Blood samples were collected to test serum levels of vitamin A and E using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Logistic regression was implemented to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for evaluating the association of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with the serum levels of Vitamin A and E. Results After propensity score matching, the study cohort included 153 cases with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and 306 health children as controls. Before matching, with age and gender adjusted, logistic regression analysis indicated that higher serum levels of Vitamin A and E led to a lower risk of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (OR=0.075, 95% CI: 0.007-0.815; OR=0.854, 95% CI: 0.792-0.986). After matching, higher serum level of Vitamin E had a significantly lower risk of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (OR=0.877, 95% CI: 0.810-0.950). Conclusions The serum levels of Vitamin A didn't have a statistically significant association with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. However, we observed an obvious association between Vitamin E and mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Hence Vitamin E clinical monitoring and supplementation are vital for preventing and treating mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Key words: Pneumonia, mycoplasma; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Child; Propensity score