Vitamin D deficiency in the intensive care unit: an invisible accomplice to morbidity and mortality?

Intensive Care Med. 2009 Dec;35(12):2028-32. doi: 10.1007/s00134-009-1642-x. Epub 2009 Sep 15.

Abstract

The association between vitamin D deficiency and chronic illness is well-known. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased mortality in the general population. Despite this knowledge, vitamin D insufficiency is seldom considered and rarely replaced adequately, if at all, in critically ill patients in intensive care. We present a hypothetic model demonstrating how vitamin D deficiency may be an unrecognized contributor to adverse outcome in intensive care patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Calcium / therapeutic use
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Hypocalcemia / drug therapy
  • Hypocalcemia / epidemiology
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data*
  • Magnesium / blood
  • Mucositis / epidemiology
  • Multiple Organ Failure / epidemiology
  • Nutritional Status
  • Parathyroid Hormone / physiology
  • Survival Rate
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / mortality
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium