Abstract
Aims: Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation regulation. Low vitamin C levels have been linked to poor clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients. However, data on the prevalence and impact of vitamin C deficiency in individuals with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are limited. This study aimed to assess vitamin C status and its association with clinical outcomes in hospitalised CAP patients.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult CAP admissions at two tertiary hospitals in South Australia from 2018 to 2023. Patients were identified using ICD-10-AM codes, and serum vitamin C levels were obtained from electronic medical records. Vitamin C deficiency was defined as <11 μmol/L. Pneumonia severity was assessed using the CURB-65 score, and frailty using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Outcomes included ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmissions. Multilevel regression models adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, HFRS, CURB-65 score, socioeconomic status, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and time to vitamin C testing.
Results: Of 8,163 CAP admissions, 101 patients (1.2%) had measured vitamin C levels. The mean age was 71.7 years (SD 18.2), and 54.5% were male. Vitamin C deficiency was present in 41 patients (40.6%). Deficient patients were more likely male and had significantly higher CRP levels (P < 0.05). Vitamin C deficiency was associated with increased ICU LOS (IRR 2.71, 95% CI 2.07–3.54, P < 0.001) and total hospital LOS (IRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.42, p = 0.005). Mortality and readmission rates did not differ significantly between groups.
Conclusions: Vitamin C deficiency was common in tested CAP patients and associated with prolonged hospital and ICU stays. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of vitamin C supplementation in this population.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult CAP admissions at two tertiary hospitals in South Australia from 2018 to 2023. Patients were identified using ICD-10-AM codes, and serum vitamin C levels were obtained from electronic medical records. Vitamin C deficiency was defined as <11 μmol/L. Pneumonia severity was assessed using the CURB-65 score, and frailty using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Outcomes included ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, and 30-day readmissions. Multilevel regression models adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, HFRS, CURB-65 score, socioeconomic status, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, and time to vitamin C testing.
Results: Of 8,163 CAP admissions, 101 patients (1.2%) had measured vitamin C levels. The mean age was 71.7 years (SD 18.2), and 54.5% were male. Vitamin C deficiency was present in 41 patients (40.6%). Deficient patients were more likely male and had significantly higher CRP levels (P < 0.05). Vitamin C deficiency was associated with increased ICU LOS (IRR 2.71, 95% CI 2.07–3.54, P < 0.001) and total hospital LOS (IRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06–1.42, p = 0.005). Mortality and readmission rates did not differ significantly between groups.
Conclusions: Vitamin C deficiency was common in tested CAP patients and associated with prolonged hospital and ICU stays. Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of vitamin C supplementation in this population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-29 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Internal Medicine Journal |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | Special issue |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2025 |
| Event | Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand 2025 - Hilton Hotel, Adelaide, Australia Duration: 27 Aug 2025 → 30 Aug 2025 https://www.imsanzconference.com.au/ |
Bibliographical note
Poster presentation No. 46.Keywords
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Hospitalised patients