Vitamin D Level in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Patients: Its Relation to Severity of Illness

Abstract

Background and aim: Vitamin D (Vit D) insufficiency is defined as level less than 30ng/ml, and Vit D deficiency as a level below 20ng/ml. Vit D deficiency is related to higher illness severity and death in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Our study aims to detect the relation between of Vit D level on admission in PICU patients and their Length of Stay (LOS) or duration of mechanical ventilation. Patients and methods: In a prospective case control study, 30 patients of PICU of the Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) in Almadinah Almounourah, KSA, were observed for Vit D level in the first 12 hours of their admission. Results: Vit D deficiency in our study has a prevalence of 56.7%. Of 30 patients, those with Vit D deficiency were 17, 4 had Vit D insufficiency and 9 patients had normal levels. Conclusions: There is increased prevalence of Vit D in our PICU children and it is significantly associated with LOS and days on ventilator while there it is not significantly associated with mortality rate.