| Summary: | Introduction: Vitamin D is important for maintaining musculoskeletal health. Vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia and increase the risk for muscle weakness, falls and fractures. Recent studies have revealed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with many chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancers and more. Vitamin D deficiency is common in Iceland. Critically ill patients at southern latitudes have been shown to have low vitamin D levels that were associated with prolonged hospital stay. To our knowledge no studies have been conducted on vitamin D status amongst critically ill patients at high northern latitudes. The aims of the study were to characterize the vitamin D status of the critically ill patients in Reykjavík, Iceland, to evaluate the extent of vitamin D deficiency and its effect on hospital stay and mortality of these critically ill patients. Methods: This was a prospective observational study on 122 patients admitted to Landspitali – The National University Hospital of Iceland (LUH) intensive care unit (ICU) during the years 2014-2015. Serum vitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in all patients on two occasions (first and second day). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its effect on hospital stay and mortality was calculated. Results: 11/122 (9%) patients had serum vitamin D values > 75 nmol/L which is recommended for good health. 84/122 (69%) had serum vitamin D values < 50 nmol/L which is defined as vitamin D deficiency and 52/122 (43%) of these patients had serum vitamin D values < 25 nmol/L which is defined as severe vitamin D deficiency. The average serum vitamin D value in the first measurement was 40.9 nmol/L and 38.1 nmol/L in the second measurement (average difference 2.8 nmol/L). 46/122 (38%) patients stayed longer than four days in the ICU. 23/52 (43%) patients with serum vitamin D values < 25 nmol/L stayed longer than four days in the ICU compared with 23/70 (19%) patients with higher values (p = 0.196). 90-day mortality in the study group was 31/122 ...
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