Vitamin D deficiency is endemic in neurosurgical patients and is associated with a longer length of inpatient stay

Ved, Ronak, Taylor, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3436-422X, Stewart, Philippa, Foulkes, Jonathan, Fields-Jewell, Wilem, Davies, Steve and Hayhurst, Caroline 2020. Vitamin D deficiency is endemic in neurosurgical patients and is associated with a longer length of inpatient stay. Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 3 (1) , e00097. 10.1002/edm2.97

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Abstract

Introduction Vitamin D deficiency is common in spinal surgery and critical care. Hypovitaminosis D may impact on outcomes in cranial neurosurgical care and play roles in underlying disease processes. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was performed. All emergency cranial neurosurgical ward admissions from 1st January to 10th May 2017 were screened for inclusion (n = 406). Patients already receiving vitamin D supplementation, spinal patients and elective admissions were excluded. Admission vitamin D levels were checked for all remaining patients (n = 95). Patients with vitamin D <30 nmol/L were defined as “deficient” and those 30‐50 nmol/L as “inadequate.” All patients with levels <50 nmol/L were replaced, as per local guidelines. Descriptive analyses of the cohorts were undertaken, with multivariate regression used to assess the effect of vitamin D on length of stay, inpatient morbidity and mortality. Results The median age of participants was 61 years (n = 95; 57% male, 43% female). The median vitamin D level was 23 nmol/L (deficient). 84% (n = 80) of patients had low vitamin D levels, with 61% (n = 58) classed as deficient (<30 nmol/L). Vitamin D deficiency rates were similar in those aged below 65 years (86%; n = 38/44) and those above 65 years (82%; n = 42/51). Deficient vitamin D level was associated with longer hospital stay (P = .03), and this relationship persisted after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex and preadmission Charlson co‐morbidity index. No statistically significant association was seen with vitamin D status and inpatient morbidity or mortality. Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is common in cranial neurosurgical patients, even in predefined low‐risk groups (age <65). Lower vitamin D level was associated with longer length of stay. This study supports the need for: (a) further investigation into the roles of vitamin D in neurosurgical pathologies and management and (b) an appropriately powered, randomised investigation into the impact of vitamin D status upon neurosurgical diagnoses and complications.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG)
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	2398-9238
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 November 2019
Date of Acceptance:	2 October 2019
Last Modified:	06 May 2023 15:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/126795

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