title: Vitamin D Deficiency Is Not Associated with Outcomes in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients: A Case Control Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk and adverse outcomes in many clinical settings including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and critically ill patients. Therefore we aimed to determine whether vitamin D deficiency had any effect in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective record review was conducted in a tertiary community hospital in Puerto Rico. Adult patients admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit with a diagnosis of aSAH from January 2013 to July 2014, who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin-D level drawn, were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of aSAH, and 33 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 81% of patients were vitamin D deficient or insufficient. Subjects were grouped into those with vitamin D deficiency (n = 13) and those without (n = 20). Except for a larger prevalence of coronary artery disease, all other baseline parameters were similar. No significant difference in hospital mortality was observed (P = 0.676). The percentage of vasospasms, vasopressor use, hydrocephalus, and infections was also similar. An increase in length of neurosurgical intensive care unit stay and respiratory failure was observed in the vitamin D-deficient group, but it was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found among patients admitted with a diagnosis of aSAH in this cohort. Despite this no difference in clinical outcomes was observed in patients when compared by vitamin D group. Further studies are needed to assess potential effects of vitamin D deficiency in this patient population including long term follow-up after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: alvarado@nova.edu.
authors.forename: Yarelis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alvarado Reyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, HIMA-San Pablo Caguas Hospital, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Vega
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Puerto Rico; Stroke; Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency