Correlation of serum vitamin D level with mortality in patients with sepsis

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in the critically ill. Recently, it has been found in many studies that many trace elements and nutrients do have an effect on human body and if supplemented can improve the prognosis in patients with sepsis. Aim and Objectives: Primary objective: Whether low Vitamin D is associated with mortality. Secondary objective: To find out association of low Vitamin D levels and morbidity in terms of length of hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. Subjects and Methods: Following ethical approval, consent will be sought from either the patient or assent from a near relative. Successive patients admitted to the medical emergency and ICU at tertiary care health center who fulfill the following criteria for sepsis, within a 24 h time window, were included in the study. Results: Among 88 patients evaluated in our study 15 patients (18.2%) were found to have adequate Vitamin D levels and seven patients (8%) were found insufficient and rest 52 patients (73.9%) were found deficient in Vitamin D. Age of the patients ranged between 18 and 82 years with mean (±standard deviation) 45.02 ± 17.69 years. Mean Vitamin D level was found significantly higher among patients with positive outcome than those with unfavorable outcome (expiry) ( t = 2.075, P = 0.04). On comparison of the length of hospital stay (morbidity) with Vitamin D levels, we found statistically significant inverse relation between Vitamin D levels and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency leads to increased risk of mortality in the critically ill along with prolonged hospital stay.