According to a prospective observational pilot study, 75% of the critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation have Vit. D deficiency making them susceptible to hospital-acquired infections and organ dysfunction.

Patients receiving mechanical ventilation are also at higher risk Vitamin D deficiency. Deficiency or insufficiency is present in almost 2 out of 4 critically ill patients, and few of them have also undetectable serum Vitamin D levels. However, the link between Vitamin-D levels and critically ill patients are varying and has imparted conflicting implications.

Similarly, effect of serum 25‑hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH] D) levels on the recovery of critically ill mechanically ventilated patients is vague. A prospective observational pilot study was conducted to evaluate the serum Vitamin D status and its impact on the clinical outcome in the critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation at the time of admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The study did show that vitamin D deficiency is quite prevalent in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. But, the study also highlights that the deficiency of Vitamin D does not affect the clinical outcome of patients.

Source: Yadav S, et al. Admission Vitamin D status does not predict outcome of critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation: An observational pilot study. Indian J Anaesth. 2018;62:47-52