Serum 25(OH)D levels and mortality risk among middle-aged and elderly populations in the U.S.: A prospective cohort study

by Yaowen Hu, Faliang Gao, Yuan Yang, Wei Yang, Huibo He, Jie Zhou, Yujie Zhao, Xi Chen, Wenyan Zhao, Xiaopeng He

To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among middle-aged and elderly populations in the U.S.

Data were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2018. A total of 22,130 participants aged 40–70 years were included. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were measured and categorized. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Multivariable-adjusted models and various statistical analyses were employed.

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (≤50.00 nmol/L) was 33.59%, and insufficiency (≤75.00 nmol/L) was 71.74%. For all-cause mortality, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) across different 25(OH)D levels (p = 0.0069, 0.59 (0.49,0.72) p p  Conclusion

This study found that higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are linked to lower all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. The relationship is nonlinear: increases in concentration reduce death risk below a certain threshold, but above it, the association weakens. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.

Ultrasound in paediatric surgery: A meta‐analysis review of its influence on postoperative wound healing and infection rates

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) has traditionally been recognised for its imaging capabilities, but its emerging role as a therapeutic modality in postoperative wound management, especially in paediatric care, has garnered significant attention. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the influence of US on postoperative wound healing and infection rates in paediatric patients. From an initial pool of 1236 articles, seven were deemed suitable for inclusion. Postoperative wound healing was assessed using the Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation (REEDA) scale. Notably, there was a significant difference in wound healing patterns between the US-treated and control groups (I ² = 94%, standardized mean difference [SMD]: −4.60, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: −6.32 to −2.88, p < 0.01), as illustrated in Figure 4. Additionally, a marked difference in wound infection rates was observed between the groups (I ² = 93%, SMD: −5.86, 95% CIs: −9.04 to −2.68, p < 0.01), as portrayed in Figure 5. The findings underscore the potential benefits of US in enhancing postoperative wound healing and reducing infection rates in paediatric surgical settings. However, the application of US should be judicious, considering the nuances of individual patient needs and clinical contexts.