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Vitamin D Deficiency and Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and

Chai-Hoon Nowel Tan1, Bernita Yeo1, Rashida Farhad Vasanwala2,3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore 229899, Singapore.

Journal of the Endocrine Society
|April 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children with vitamin D deficiency admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) face higher mortality risks and increased need for inotropic support. This highlights the importance of addressing vitamin D levels in critically ill children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is prevalent in pediatric populations.
  • The impact of VDD on outcomes for children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients admitted to the PICU.
  • To determine if VDD correlates with increased mortality, sepsis, length of stay, or need for mechanical ventilation or inotropic support.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies was conducted.
  • Searches included Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane databases for studies on infants and children (1 month to 18 years) in the PICU with baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.
  • Data from 27 studies involving 4682 patients were analyzed using random-effects models.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was linked to a doubled risk of mortality (OR 2.05) and a doubled need for inotropic support (OR 2.02) compared to vitamin D sufficiency (VDS).
  • No significant differences were found in sepsis incidence, length of stay, or mechanical ventilation requirements between VDD and VDS groups.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D deficiency in critically ill children is associated with increased mortality and a greater requirement for inotropic support.
  • Further research is recommended to explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Abstract

Keywords:
critical care outcomespediatric intensive care unitvitamin D

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