Cholecalciferol and Ergocalciferol Replacement in Critically Injured Burn Patients: An Observational Cohort Study

Vitamin D deficiency appears to be more prevalent than previously considered in the adult critically ill population, specifically burn-injured patients. No definitive regimen has been shown to restore vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels more effectively to therapeutic levels in the burn-injured population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of either ergocalciferol (D2, 50 000 IU weekly) or cholecalciferol (D3, 6000 IU daily) in adults with burns ≥10% TBSA. This retrospective, observational study (2020-2022) included patients with vitamin D insufficiency (<30 ng/mL) who received replacement and monitoring with weekly vitamin D levels. Patients on dialysis or those with a hospital length of stay less than 2 weeks were excluded. Forty-five patients treated with ergocalciferol and 99 patients with cholecalciferol were included in the study. Patients treated with cholecalciferol were more likely to achieve 25(OH)D levels greater than 30 ng/mL compared to ergocalciferol over a 42-day period (HR 23.56, [95% CI, 12.57-44.16], P < .0001). A higher proportion of patients in the cholecalciferol group achieved vitamin D greater than 20 ng/mL (HR 6.37, [95% CI, 4.20-9.66], P < .0001). The adjusted hazard ratios (D3 vs D2) for achieving 25(OH)D levels > 30 ng/mL and > 20 ng/mL were and 23.94 (95% CI 5.09-427.6, P = .0019) and 7.32 (95% CI, 3.83-15.52, P < .0001) respectively, after controlling for TBSA and initial 25(OH)D. Cholecalciferol appears to be a more effective agent than ergocalciferol for correcting vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in patients with burn injuries.