C1a Library Impact Case Study

Library concerned: QE Library, Gateshead
Name of case study: Vitamin D deficiency in critical care
Date of interview: 27.06.16
Interviewee / Name: Vanessa Linnett
Job Title: Consultant anaesthetist
Trust/Employing body: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Email:
Tel:
Summary of problem or reason for enquiry / Consultants suspected that many critically ill patients were vitamin d deficient. NICE guidance states that patients who are symptomatic should be treated however this is more difficult to establish in critically ill patients than in the general hospital population. When critical care patients were tested, it was found that a large number of patients were vitamin d deficient.
Brief description of the information found / service provided / A comprehensive literature search was carried out on Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Medline and Pubmed.
The literature search showed that vitamin d deficiency is associated with worse outcome for critically ill patients including increased length of stay and mortality.
Summary of outcome and impact / As a result of this evidence, a new protocol was introduced into critical care (based on NICE guidance but slightly adapted for the critical care population). There is now routine testing and supplementation within critical care.
Immediate Impact
(including quotes) / The cost of vitamin d testing and supplementation is relatively low but the potential impact in terms of speed of recovery and reduced length of stay could be significant. According to the evidence, treating vitamin d deficiency in critical care should help with rehabilitation and could potentially reduce hospital days for this population.
There will be a follow up audit in a few months to assess the impact of this change in protocol.
Which Trust Objectives does this support? / Services that are clinically evidenced and that represent best practice and parity of esteem.
Services are safe, clinically effective and provide excellent patient experience.
Financially resilient and sustainable – could save the Trust money if hospital days are reduced for a relatively low cost intervention.

24_05_16