الفهرس 
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Abstract
The current study was carried out to assess the role of vitamin D as a risk factor for COPD exacerbation in the elderly COPD patients.
The sample of this prospective study consists of 60 Egyptian elderly COPD patients aged 60 years and older, with 20% of participants dropped during the follow up visits done through the 6 months follow up period
All elderly who participated in this study were diagnosed to be COPD patients. Diagnosis of COPD was done according to Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guideline; 2017 (Vogelmeier et al., 2017b).
While those who have acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) in the last month or currently treated with vitamins and dietary supplements were excluded from this study.
Those who showed lack of availability for data during the 6 months follow up period were also excluded from the study.
All patients will be subjected to:
1. Informed consent will be taken
2. Pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometric study. In case of patients who cannot perform spirometry, they will be included only if there were previous spirometric documents available.
3. Comprehensive geriatric assessment with special consideration of risk factors of COPD exacerbation.
4. Follow up visit conducted every 2 months to detect changes in the clinical history of each participant, and to review any signs or symptoms suggesting COPD exacerbation that patient may have after being included in the study.
5. Venous blood sample collection from all subjects between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and then vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level is measured by the RIA method.
Results of this study revealed that there is no relationship between serum vitamin D level and the risk of exacerbation among the Egyptian elderly COPD patients. Results also highlighted the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among COPD elderly patients.
So, we assume that vitamin D supplementation in elderly COPD patients doesn’t decrease the risk of developing acute COPD exacerbation, but we can’t confirm that it doesn’t have clinical beneficial impact on the COPD severity and progression.