Impact of Vitamin D Levels on Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Burn Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<b>Introduction:</b> Vitamin D plays a key role in immune regulation, inflammation control, and musculoskeletal health. Patients with burn injuries are particularly vulnerable to its deficiency. Despite its importance, current clinical guidelines do not provide a clear consensus on how vitamin D should be managed in this population. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> This meta-analysis aimed to assess the clinical impact of adequate vitamin D levels or supplementation compared to vitamin D deficiency or no supplementation in patients with burns. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies reporting clinical outcomes in these 2 patient groups. The primary outcomes included duration of hospitalization, length of stay in burn intensive care units, mortality, and the incidence of sepsis and intubation. Subgroup analyses were performed for randomized and non-randomized studies. Statistical analysis was conducted using Cochrane's Review Manager. <br><br><b>Results:</b> Patients with sufficient vitamin D levels or those who received supplementation had significantly shorter overall hospitalization and burn intensive care unit stays. Although the difference in mortality was not statistically significant, intubation and sepsis occurred more frequently in patients with vitamin D deficiency or no supplementation. Subgroup analyses confirmed that both randomized and non-randomized studies showed a significantly reduced hospital stay in patients with adequate vitamin D status. <br><br><b>Discussion:</b> The findings suggest that vitamin D management may improve clinical outcomes in burn patients and should be considered in future guidelines. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> Further prospective studies with larger patient populations are necessary to establish standardized treatment protocols.