Effects of vitamin D deficiency in critically ill surgical patients.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in critically ill patients is reported to be up to 50%, with a 3-fold increase in predicted mortality, but limited data exist concerning vitamin D deficiency in critically ill surgical patients.


METHODS
Sixty-six adult surgical intensive care unit patients who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels evaluated from January 2010 to February 2011 were prospectively identified. Patients were divided into groups according to vitamin D level (<20 vs ≥20 ng/mL).


RESULTS
Of the 66 patients evaluated, 49 (74%) had vitamin D levels < 20 ng/mL, and 17 (26%) had vitamin D levels ≥ 20 ng/mL. Patients with vitamin D levels < 20 versus ≥ 20 ng/mL had longer lengths of hospital stay. Lengths of intensive care unit stay were clinically longer, although not significant. Infection rates tended to be higher (P = .09), and a higher incidence of sepsis was seen in the patients with vitamin D levels < 20 ng/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin D levels < 20 ng/mL have a significant impact on length of stay, organ dysfunction, and infection rates. More data are needed on the value of supplementation to improve these outcomes.
Department of Surgery, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Lisa
L
Flynn
Lisa Hall
LH
Zimmerman
Kelly
K
McNorton
Mortimer
M
Dolman
James
J
Tyburski
Alfred
A
Baylor
Robert
R
Wilson
Heather
H
Dolman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D