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Armin Zittermann, Joachim Kuhn, Jana Barbara Ernst, Tobias Becker, Julia Larisch, Jens Dreier, Cornelius Knabbe, Jochen Börgermann, Jan Gummert

• \(\bf Background\) Vitamin D has immunomodulatory properties and seems to reduce the risk of infections. Whether low vitamin D concentrations are independent risk factors for nosocomial postoperative infections in surgical patients remains to be studied in detail. \(\bf Methods\) In 3,340 consecutive cardiac surgical patients, we investigated the association of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD; indicator of nutritional vitamin D status) and 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (\(1,25[OH]_{2}D\); active vitamin D hormone) with nosocomicial infections. The primary endpoint was a composite of thoracic wound infection, sepsis, and broncho-pulmonary infection. Vitamin D status was measured on the last preoperative day. Infections were assessed until discharge. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between vitamin D metabolite concentrations and the composite endpoint. \(\bf Results\) The primary endpoint was reached by 5.6% (n = 186). In patients who reached and did not reach the endpoint, in-hospital mortality was 13.4% and 1.5%, respectively (P<0.001). Median (IQR) 25OHD and \(1,25(OH)_{2}D\) concentrations were 43. 2 (29.7–61.9) nmol/l and 58.0 (38.5–77.5) pmol/l, respectively. Compared with the highest \(1,25(OH)_{2}D\) quintile (>81.0 pmol/l), the multivariable–adjusted odds ratio of infection was 2.57 (95%CI:1.47–4.49) for the lowest \(1,25(OH)_{2}D\) quintile (<31.5 pmol/l) and 1.85 (95%CI:1.05–3.25) for the second lowest quintile (31.5–49.0 pmol/l). There was no significant association between 25OHD concentrations and the primary endpoint. \(\bf Conclusions\) Our data indicate an independent association of low \(1,25(OH)_{2}D\) levels with the risk of post-operative infections in cardiac surgical patients. Future studies should pay more attention on the clinical relevance of circulating \(1,25(OH)_{2}D\) and its regulation.