The Role of Vitamin D in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Failure

Overview

Patients will undergo at baseline and regular intervals: * clinically indicated bloodwork/urine and echocardiogram testing * biomarker studies Upon enrolment in the study patients will be divided into 4 groups normal, mildly deficient and severely deficient. Normal and mild vitamin D levels will receive no treatment while severe Vitamin D deficiency will be randomized (50/50) to receive no treatment or vitamin D treatment. They will be seen in the heart failure clinic every 6 months. The patients will be followed for 26 months.

The inclusion criteria for the study is: * an EF ≤40% within the last 12 months before recruitment * established diagnosis of heart failure * \>18 years of age * patients will vitamin d levels of sufficient, mild deficiency and severe deficiency The exclusion criteria is: * hypercalcemia * known hypersensitivity to Vitamin D * patient unwilling to comply with study requirements * any other disease other than heart failure that can alter the patients quality of life over a period of 6 months * women of child bearing potential * a patient currently taking vitamin d * severe renal impairment estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<30

Conditions