SHOULD SERUM FOLATE BE A ROUTINE TEST IN A CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS?

Authors : Zuhal Ozer Simsek, Kaniye Aydın, Ali Çetinkaya

Pages : 331-335

Doi:10.34108/eujhs.1194675

View : 16 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2024-12-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In intensive care patients, there is an increased consumption and need for folate due to sepsis, comorbid conditions, and malnutrition. The aim of our study was planned to investigate the frequency of folate deficiency in intensive care patients. The data of the 100 patients was collected between June 2019 and September 2019. Serum folate levels were defined as normal above 4 ng/mL, 2-4 ng/mL borderline and below 2 ng/mL deficiency. Serum folate deficiency (<2 ng/mL) was detected in 19 patients (31.6% (6 patients) was female and 68.4% (13 patients) was male. Hypertension was most frequently comorbidities together with folate deficiency. There was a significant negative correlation between folate levels and \\\"Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)\\\" II scores. A high APACHE II score may be an important predictive factor for folate deficiency. Current reference ranges may cause folate malnutrition. For intensive care patients, it may be necessary to set new threshold values for folate deficiency.
Keywords : APACHE II, folik asit eksikliği, yoğun bakım ünitesi