Vitamin C levels in hospitalised patients

It is well known that severe Vitamin C deficiency can lead to gum disease, bleeding and poor wound healing but the effect of mild to moderately low levels in hospitalised patients is less known. This research endeavours to review the effect of Vitamin C deficiency in the unwell person and how it affects recovery. The aims of the present study is to examine Vitamin C levels in hospitalised patients and determine possible correlation with cognition, severity of illness and clinical course in hospital. This study will involve addition of Vitamin C levels in blood samples after informed consent from the patients, admitted in General Medicine Department of Flinders Medical Centre. The nutrition status of the participants will be determined using Malnutirition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and quality of life will be assessed using European Quality of life Questionnaire (EQ5D). The patients will be followed onto the discharge for development of complications during hospital stay and hospital lenght of stay will be recorded.