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Updated: May 22, 2025
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Insertion, Maintenance, and Removal of the Percutaneous Dual Lumen Cannula Right Ventricular Assist Device
Published on: July 20, 2022
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Vitamin D Deficiency and Driveline Infections in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Wesley A Borman1, Luke M Landrigan1, Nicholas J Berg1
1Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Artificial Organs
|March 17, 2025
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for driveline infections in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Addressing low vitamin D levels may reduce infection rates, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Disease
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Driveline infection is a significant complication in durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients.
- Few identified risk factors for driveline infection are modifiable.
- Vitamin D deficiency is investigated as a potential modifiable risk factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate vitamin D deficiency as a modifiable risk factor for driveline infection in LVAD recipients.
- To identify independent risk factors associated with driveline infection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 134 LVAD recipients (2010-2022).
- Patients categorized into vitamin D sufficient (≥30 ng/mL) and deficient (<30 ng/mL) groups.
- Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models used to assess driveline infection rates and risk factors.
Main Results:
- 18-month freedom from driveline infection was significantly higher in the vitamin D sufficient group (90.5% vs. 69.6%, p=0.014).
- Vitamin D deficiency (HR: 3.644, p=0.016) and obesity (HR: 3.190, p=0.004) were independent risk factors for driveline infection.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D deficiency is a potential modifiable risk factor for driveline infection in LVAD patients.
- Obesity is also a significant risk factor for driveline infection.
- Further research is needed to confirm causality and the effect of vitamin D repletion.
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