Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Surgical Site Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Nutritional Science
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems.
• Vitamin D may possess indirect antimicrobial properties and has been associated with reduced infection rates.
• The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and SSI development requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and the development of SSIs in adult surgical patients.
• To synthesize evidence from observational studies through a meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases including Embase, Medline, and Cochrane.
• Eight eligible cohort studies involving 12,737 patients were included in the meta-analysis.
• Bias-adjusted inverse variance heterogeneity methods were employed, with risk of bias assessed using the MASTER Scale and publication bias evaluated using Doi plots and the K-index.

Main Results:

• Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was associated with increased odds of SSI (OR: 1.42).
• A more stringent cut-off level (<30 ng/mL) showed a stronger association with higher odds of SSI (OR: 3.84).
• The meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant link between vitamin D deficiency and increased SSI risk.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with an elevated risk of developing surgical site infections.
• These findings suggest a potential role for vitamin D deficiency in SSI pathogenesis.
• Prospective clinical trials are necessary to determine the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in reducing post-operative SSI risk.