COPD affects more than 170 million people worldwide and caused an estimated 3.2 million deaths in 2015.1 COPD mortality arises primarily during episodes of acute worsening of symptoms termed exacerbations: these may be classified as severe (ie, requiring emergency department attendance or hospitalisation) or moderate (ie, requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids or antibiotics, or both, but not precipitating emergency department attendance or hospitalisation).2 COPD exacerbations are commonly triggered by respiratory viruses and bacteria, which increase airway inflammation.3 Vitamin D metabolites support the induction of antiviral and antimicrobial effector mechanisms and attenuate inflammatory responses.4
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