A recent study determined that vitamin D deficiency is linked with a significant financial burden on hospitals and third party payers.

Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide problem, affecting at least a third of the population; though, some researchers believe an even greater number of people may be deficient.

Although many individuals who are vitamin D deficient present no symptoms at all, research has shown that low vitamin D status is associated with a prolonged length of hospital stay and an increased risk of mortality in critically ill individuals.

Despite the abundant research on the health implications of vitamin D deficiency in the hospital setting, no studies to date have evaluated the economic implications of this.

Therefore, researchers recently aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency (

Here is what the researchers found:

• Of the 565 patients, those with vitamin D levels less than 18 ng/ml experienced an increased incidence of VAP (24.3% vs. 15.5%, P= 0.024).
• 6% of vitamin D deficient individuals suffered MI, compared to 2.8% in those with vitamin D level > 18 ng/ml (P = 0.031).
• Those with low vitamin D levels stayed in the ICU longer than those with higher vitamin D levels (11.4 ± 0.95 vs. 8.11 ± 1.1 days, P= 0.03),
• Low vitamin D status was linked with an increased ICU financial cost ($43,965 ± 3,683 vs. 31,274 ± 4,311, P=0.033) and Hospital ward cost ($29,780 ± 2,501 vs. 19,418 ± 1,923, P=0.005).
• VAP and MI’s added $40,000 and $70,000 to hospital costs, respectively.

The researchers concluded,

“Vitamin D3 deficiency is associated with a significant financial impact on hospital and third party payers. Further studies are needed to calculate the full economic impact on hospitals, states, countries, and third party payers.”

Citation

Sturges, M. & Cannell, JJ. Does vitamin D deficiency economically impact hospitals and third party payers? Vitamin D Council Blog/Newsletter, November 25, 2015.                  

Source

Mathews, L. et al. 1300: Economic impact of vitamin D levels less than 18 ng/ml on hospitals and third party payers. Critical Care Medicine, 2015.