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Ferrante G, Fasola S, Piazza M, Tenero L, Zaffanello M, La Grutta S, Piacentini G. Vitamin D and Healthcare Service Utilization in Children: Insights from a Machine Learning Approach. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11237157. [PMID: 36498731 PMCID: PMC9738108 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11237157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is a global health issue: an association has been demonstrated between vitamin D deficiency and a myriad of acute and chronic illnesses. Data regarding vitamin D status among children hospitalized with non-critical illnesses are scanty. We aimed to: (1) identify profiles of children hospitalized due to non-critical illnesses, using vitamin D levels as the driving outcome; (2) assess the association between patient profiles and length of stay. The study included 854 patients (1−17 years old) who underwent blood tests for detecting vitamin D levels. A regression tree was used to stratify patients. The relationship between vitamin D levels and length of stay was explored using Poisson regression. The regression tree identified three subgroups. Group A (16%): African, North African, Hispanic, and Indian patients. Group B (62%): Caucasian and Asian patients hospitalized for respiratory, metabolic, ill-defined, infective, and genitourinary diseases. Group C (22%): Caucasian and Asian patients hospitalized for digestive, nervous, and musculoskeletal diseases, blood and skin diseases, and injuries. Mean serum vitamin D level (ng/mL) was 13.7 (SD = 9.4) in Group A, 20.5 (10.0) in Group B, and 26.2 (12.6) in Group C. Group B was associated with the highest BMI z-score (p < 0.001) and the highest frequency of preterm births (p = 0.041). Mean length of stay was longer in Group A than in the other groups (p < 0.001) and decreased significantly by 9.8% (p = 0.024) in Group A and by 5% (p = 0.029) in Group B per 10 ng/mL increase in vitamin D level. We identified three subgroups of hospitalized children, defined according to ethnicity and discharge diagnosis, and characterized by increasing vitamin D levels. Vitamin D levels were associated with length of hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Ferrante
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynaecology, Pediatric Division, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Fasola
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Michele Piazza
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynaecology, Pediatric Division, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura Tenero
- AOUI Verona—Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Zaffanello
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynaecology, Pediatric Division, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania La Grutta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Piacentini
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynaecology, Pediatric Division, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
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Penkert RR, Azul M, Sealy RE, Jones BG, Dowdy J, Hayden RT, Tang L, Ross AC, Hankins JS, Hurwitz JL. Hypothesis: Low Vitamin A and D Levels Worsen Clinical Outcomes When Children with Sickle Cell Disease Encounter Parvovirus B19. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14163415. [PMID: 36014920 PMCID: PMC9414848 DOI: 10.3390/nu14163415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human parvovirus B19 causes life-threatening anemia due to transient red cell aplasia (TRCA) in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). Children with SCD experiencing profound anemia during TRCA often require red blood cell transfusions and hospitalization. The prevalence of vitamin deficiencies in SCD is high and deficiencies are associated with respiratory and pain symptoms, but the effects of vitamins on acute infection with parvovirus B19 remain unclear. We performed a clinical study in which 20 SCD patients hospitalized with parvovirus B19 infections (Day 0) were monitored over a 120-day time course to query relationships between vitamins A and D and clinical outcomes. There were significant negative correlations between Day 0 vitamin levels and disease consequences (e.g., red blood cell transfusion requirements, inflammatory cytokines). There were significant positive correlations (i) between Day 0 vitamins and peak virus-specific antibodies in nasal wash, and (ii) between Day 0 virus-specific serum plus nasal wash antibodies and absolute reticulocyte counts. There was a significant negative correlation between Day 0 virus-specific serum antibodies and virus loads. To explain the results, we propose circular and complex mechanisms. Low baseline vitamin levels may weaken virus-specific immune responses to permit virus amplification and reticulocyte loss; consequent damage may further reduce vitamin levels and virus-specific immunity. While the complex benefits of vitamins are not fully understood, we propose that maintenance of replete vitamin A and D levels in children with SCD will serve as prophylaxis against parvovirus B19-induced TRCA complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon R. Penkert
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Melissa Azul
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Robert E. Sealy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Bart G. Jones
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jola Dowdy
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Randall T. Hayden
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - A. Catharine Ross
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jane S. Hankins
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Julia L. Hurwitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Correspondence:
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