Background: Already several clinical investigations have suggested that there is an association between hypovitaminosis D and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Not only has it been linked to incident AMI, but also to high blood pressure, increased morbidity and mortality in this clinical setting. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency seems to predispose to recurrent adverse cardiovascular events, as it seems to be associated with post-infarction complications in patients with AMI. (1-3) The aim of this study was to evaluate correlation of 25(OH)D serum levels to severity of hypertension and diastolic function in patients with acute STEMI successfully treated with primary PCI.

Patients and Methods: This study included 88 consecutive patients admitted to our ICU with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated successfully with primary PCI. Vitamin D serum levels were measured in all patients after admission and prior to treatment. Echocardiography was performed by specialists in our institution 1-3 days after admission. Patients were followed in ICU for 3-4 days. The endpoints were mean systolic and diastolic pressure continuously monitored and mean E/A ratio as a measure of diastolic function.

Results: Lower 25(OH)D serum levels were significantly associated with higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to higher 25(OH)D serum level (p=0.004; p=0.006). Lower 25(OH)D serum levels were significantly associated with lower E/A ratio compared to higher 25(OH)D serum levels (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Low vitamin D serum level, after adjustment for the main confounding factors, significantly correlates with severity of hypertension and diastolic dysfunction in patients with STEMI.