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The association of vitamin D status with pediatric critical illness

J Dayre McNally1, Kusum Menon, Pranesh Chakraborty

  • 1Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Canada. dmcnally@cheo.on.ca

Pediatrics
|August 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill children, affecting 69%. This deficiency is linked to increased illness severity and longer PICU stays, suggesting a need for further research into supplementation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D is a crucial hormone for multiple organ systems.
  • Vitamin D deficiency may worsen outcomes in critically ill patients.
  • Understanding vitamin D status in pediatric critical illness is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in critically ill children.
  • Identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.
  • Investigate the association between vitamin D deficiency and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study in 6 Canadian tertiary-care Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).
  • Analysis of data and biological samples from 326 critically ill children (up to 17 years).
  • Measurement of total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <50 nmol/L) was observed in 69% of patients.
  • Lower vitamin D levels correlated with hypocalcemia, catecholamine use, and fluid resuscitation.
  • Vitamin D deficiency independently predicted longer PICU length of stay and increased illness severity (Pediatric Risk of Mortality score).

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in critically ill children.
  • The deficiency is associated with increased severity of critical illness.
  • Further research is warranted to explore vitamin D supplementation's impact on outcomes.
Abstract

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