Vitamin D-deficiency among critically-ill children and longer stay in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are co-related. This has been proved in a study published in the current issue of Annals of Intensive Care Journal, which also finds high prevalence (74%) of Vitamin D deficiency among critically-ill children admitted at the PICU.<\/p>\n
The study \u2018Vitamin D deficiency and length of paediatric intensive care unit stay: a prospective observational study\u2019 was conducted by doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi, PGIMER and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi.<\/p>\n
Its primary objectives were to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency at the time of \u2018admission\u2019 to intensive care unit (ICU) and to examine its association with duration of the ICU stay.<\/p>\n
A total of 101 children, aged 1 month-17 years, admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 8 months (July-December 2013), were enrolled for the study.<\/p>\n
Most children were suffering from pneumonia (19 %), septic shock (19 %) and fifteen children had features of hypocalcemia (deficiency of calcium in blood stream) at time of admission.<\/p>\n
The doctors found that higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in those critically-ill children was associated with increased length of stay in the ICU.
\nThe study reads, \u201cThe prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the enrolled population was 74 %. The median duration of the ICU stay was significantly longer in \u2018vitamin D deficient\u2019 children (7 days) than those with \u2018no vitamin D deficiency\u2019 (three days).\u201d<\/p>\n
Deficient children were older as compared to those \u2018not deficient\u2019. \u201cThis could have been due to the lack of exposure to adequate sunlight during school hours, or very little exposure owing to mostly indoor activities in this age group apart from dietary factors,\u201d read the study.
\n\u201cThe study results could be taken into account for designing interventional studies to find out the outcomes of supplementation,\u201d the study concludes.<\/p>\n
Read More:<\/strong> Vitamin D-deficient children stay longer in ICUs: AIIMS study<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Source:<\/strong>\u00a0Hindustantimes.com<\/em>
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