Serum vitamin D deficiency and risk of hospitalization for heart failure: Prospective results from the Moli-sani study

Abstract Background and aims Evidence indicates that Vitamin D deficiencymay be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, although findings on risk of heart failure (HF) are controversial. We investigated the relationship between serum Vitamin D and the incidence of hospitalization for HF in a large prospective cohort of Italian adults. Methods and results 19,092 (49% men, age range 35–99 years) HF-free individuals from the Moli-sani study, with complete data on serum Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin) levels and incident hospitalized HF, were analysed. The cohort was followed up for a median of 6.2 years. Baseline serum Vitamin D levels were categorized in deficient ( Conclusion Deficiency of Vitamin D was associated, independently of known HF risk factors, with an increased risk of hospitalization for HF in an Italian adult population.