The association between serum vitamin D and mortality in adult patients with burns: a cohort study

Evidence has shown debatable and challenging results related to vitamin D levels and outcomes in patients with burns. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the serum vitamin D levels in adult patients with burns and their hospital outcomes, particularly with regards to mortality and length of stay.

This prospective cohort study included patients admitted to Sina Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Demographic data and patient outcomes were collected by trained general physicians. The patients' blood samples were taken at time of admission to measure serum vitamin D level. Pearson's correlation test and logistic regression modelling were used to reach the study goals regarding the normal distribution of data.

Of the 205 patients, approximately 57% were male, with a mean age of 37.67±13.61 years. Mean vitamin D level was 23.15±3.86ng/ml, with a range of 7.2-28.7ng/ml. Only 11.7% of patients had sufficient serum vitamin D levels (≥20ng/ml), while 4.4% had severe insufficiency (<10ng/ml). Logistic regression revealed a significant relationship, as a preventable factor, between serum vitamin D level and mortality in the patients (odds ratio=0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.56, 0.94).

The findings of this study support the notion that serum vitamin D levels (<20ng/ml) could have a preventive role in mortality in patients with burns. We conclude that supplementation with vitamin D is necessary after burn injury among adult patients with diabetes in order to prevent death.