Abstract
Objective
To determine if vitamin D status is affected in term neonates with early onset sepsis and its association with outcome.
Methods
Study was done at a level 3 neonatal unit on 140 neonates. Term neonates with early onset sepsis (study group, 70 patients) and without sepsis (control group, 70 patients) were enrolled.
Results
Mean neonatal vitamin D level in the study group was 16.00 (10.49) ng/mL and in the control group, was 29.07(8.36) ng/mL (P =0.061). In the study group 80% (n=56) babies had low vitamin D levels (<32 ng/mL) among whom 51.7% (n=29) had severe vitamin D deficiency (<11ng/mL). In the control group, 58.5% (n=41) had low vitamin D levels of whom, 9.8% (n=4) had severe vitamin D deficiency (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Mortality and highly probable sepsis were more common with vitamin D levels <11ng/mL in the study group (P= 0.005 and P=0.006, respectively).
Conclusion
Vitamin D is deficient in neonates with early onset sepsis and is associated with increased sepsis severity and mortality.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the contribution in statistics to Dr Prakash Patel and Ms Swati Patel and to Dr Ajay Sethi for his inputs during the study.
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Contributors; PS: conceived the study, conceptualized study design, supervised data collection and analysis, and reviewed the intellectual outcome: drafted and critically revised the manuscript; VC: prepared study design, carried out the study, enrolled patients, collected data and prepared result: collected data, data analysis and drafted the manuscript. All authors have reviewed and approved of the final draft of the paper. Dr Poonam Singh will act as guarantor for the paper.
Funding: Under JSSK programme. (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram)
Competing Interest: None stated.
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Singh, P., Chaudhari, V. Association of Early-Onset Sepsis and Vitamin D Deficiency in Term Neonates. Indian Pediatr 57, 232–234 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-020-1757-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-020-1757-2