Introduction:

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been documented in hospital population. In ICU patients, it has been associated with worse outcomes.

Objective:

To determine the usefulness of CRP, ESR, APACHE II and SOFA as predictors of vitamin D deficiency upon patient arrival in the ICU. To find the incidence of vitamin D deficiency at the UCI, and its association with mortality and length of stay.

Material and methods:

A prospective, analytical, observational, case control study using CRP, ESR, APACHE II and SOFA as predictors of vitamin D deficiency. We recruited 46 patients who were admitted to our ICU in a six-month period. CRP, ESR, APACHE II and SOFA were recorded and 25-hidroxyvitamin D levels were requested at admission and at the seventh day in the ICU. We divided the patients into two groups: those with and without deficiency.

Results:

CRP, ESR, APACHE II and SOFA could not predict vitamin D deficiency. We found an increase in the length of stay in deficient patients (p = 0.024). No increased mortality in the vitamin D deficient population. We found 80% of our population with deficiency.

Conclusions:

We found a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency and an increased length of stay justifying the measurement of 25-hidroxyvitamin D levels in the critically ill.