A Gram Research analysis of 340 critically ill patients found that researchers successfully created a prediction tool using eight simple factors—including blood cell counts, inflammation markers, and patient history—to identify which hospital patients have vitamin B1 deficiency. The tool correctly identified deficiency about 80% of the time in the training group and 61% in the validation group, with an overall deficiency rate of 16.2% among critically ill patients. This nomogram offers doctors a practical bedside screening method to catch this serious deficiency early before complications develop.
Researchers created a simple prediction tool to help doctors identify critically ill patients who might have vitamin B1 deficiency before serious complications develop. The study involved 340 severely ill patients and found that about 1 in 6 had this deficiency. By looking at eight easy-to-measure factors—like blood cell counts, inflammation markers, and patient history—doctors can now quickly assess who needs vitamin B1 screening. This early detection could help prevent serious health problems in hospital patients who are already fighting serious illnesses.
Key Statistics
A 2026 prospective cohort study of 340 critically ill patients found that vitamin B1 deficiency affected 16.2% of severely ill hospital patients, significantly higher than rates in the general population.
Researchers developed a nomogram prediction tool that achieved 80.2% accuracy (AUC = 0.802) in identifying vitamin B1 deficiency in the training cohort of 237 critically ill patients using eight readily available clinical factors.
The prediction nomogram identified eight independent risk factors for vitamin B1 deficiency in critically ill patients: lymphocyte percentage, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, albumin levels, BMI, sepsis classification, smoking status, and alcohol consumption history.
When validated on a separate group of 103 critically ill patients, the nomogram demonstrated moderate predictive performance (AUC = 0.610), suggesting it works as a practical screening tool in real hospital settings.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Can doctors predict which critically ill hospital patients have vitamin B1 deficiency using simple information available when patients arrive at the hospital?
- Who participated: 340 severely ill patients admitted to hospitals, split into a training group (237 patients) and a testing group (103 patients) to develop and verify the prediction tool.
- Key finding: Researchers identified eight measurable factors that together can predict vitamin B1 deficiency with reasonable accuracy. About 16% of the critically ill patients studied had this deficiency, which is much higher than in the general population.
- What it means for you: If you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital with a serious illness, doctors may soon use this tool to quickly check for vitamin B1 deficiency and treat it early. This could prevent additional complications. However, this tool is designed for hospital use only, not for home screening.
The Research Details
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study, which means they followed patients forward in time from hospital admission to track who developed vitamin B1 deficiency. They enrolled 340 critically ill patients and split them into two groups: a training group of 237 patients used to develop the prediction tool, and a validation group of 103 patients used to test whether the tool actually worked.
The researchers used a statistical method called LASSO regression to identify which patient factors were most important for predicting deficiency. They then created a visual tool called a nomogram—essentially a scoring chart that doctors can use at the bedside. The nomogram combines eight factors: lymphocyte percentage (a type of white blood cell), C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation), D-dimer (a blood clotting marker), albumin levels (a blood protein), body mass index, sepsis classification, smoking history, and alcohol consumption history.
They tested how well the tool worked by measuring its ability to correctly identify patients with and without deficiency, checking whether its predictions matched reality, and confirming it would be useful in real clinical practice.
Vitamin B1 deficiency is serious in critically ill patients because this vitamin is essential for energy production and nerve function. However, doctors currently have no quick bedside tool to identify who has it, so many cases go undetected until serious complications develop. This study matters because it provides a practical, evidence-based screening method using information doctors already collect when patients arrive at the hospital.
This study has several strengths: it was conducted at two different hospitals (increasing generalizability), used a proper training-and-validation approach (testing the tool on different patients than those used to develop it), and employed rigorous statistical methods. However, the validation group was relatively small (103 patients), and the tool’s performance was weaker in the validation group than the training group, suggesting it may not work equally well in all hospital settings. The study was published in Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed journal, which adds credibility.
What the Results Show
The nomogram successfully identified eight independent predictors of vitamin B1 deficiency in critically ill patients. In the training group of 237 patients, the tool showed strong predictive ability with an AUC (a measure of accuracy) of 0.802, meaning it correctly distinguished between patients with and without deficiency about 80% of the time. When tested on the separate validation group of 103 patients, the tool still worked but with moderate performance (AUC of 0.610), which is more realistic for real-world use.
The overall rate of vitamin B1 deficiency in the study was 16.2%—meaning roughly 1 in 6 critically ill patients had this deficiency. This is significantly higher than deficiency rates in the general healthy population, highlighting that critically ill patients are at special risk.
The eight factors that best predicted deficiency were: low lymphocyte percentage (indicating immune system stress), elevated C-reactive protein (showing inflammation), elevated D-dimer (suggesting blood clotting issues), low albumin (indicating poor nutrition), lower BMI, sepsis diagnosis, current or former smoking, and alcohol consumption history. Patients with multiple risk factors had much higher predicted deficiency rates than those with few risk factors.
The calibration analysis showed excellent agreement between what the nomogram predicted and what actually happened in patients—meaning the tool’s confidence levels were accurate. Decision curve analysis confirmed the nomogram would be clinically useful, helping doctors make better decisions about who to screen for vitamin B1 deficiency. The tool appears particularly useful for identifying high-risk patients who should definitely be screened, rather than screening everyone indiscriminately.
This is the first validated bedside prediction tool specifically designed for vitamin B1 deficiency in critically ill patients. Previous research has shown that vitamin B1 deficiency is common in hospitalized patients and associated with poor outcomes, but doctors lacked a systematic way to identify at-risk individuals. This nomogram fills that gap by providing an evidence-based screening method based on readily available clinical data.
The validation group was relatively small (103 patients), which may explain why the tool’s performance dropped from the training group. The study was conducted at only two hospitals, so results may not apply equally to all hospital settings or patient populations. The tool’s moderate performance in the validation group (AUC 0.610) suggests it should be used as a screening aid rather than a definitive diagnostic tool. Additionally, the study didn’t examine whether using this tool to screen and treat vitamin B1 deficiency actually improves patient outcomes—it only shows the tool can predict who has deficiency.
The Bottom Line
For hospital doctors and critical care teams: Use this nomogram as a screening aid to identify critically ill patients at high risk for vitamin B1 deficiency upon admission. Patients scoring high on the nomogram should receive vitamin B1 testing and supplementation if deficient. Confidence level: Moderate (the tool works reasonably well but isn’t perfect). For patients and families: If a loved one is admitted to the hospital with a serious illness, ask whether doctors have screened for vitamin B1 deficiency, especially if the patient has risk factors like sepsis, poor nutrition, or alcohol history.
This research is most relevant to: intensive care unit (ICU) doctors and nurses, hospital nutritionists, and critically ill patients at high risk for deficiency (those with sepsis, malnutrition, or alcohol use history). It’s less relevant to healthy people or those with minor illnesses. Patients with existing vitamin B1 deficiency diagnoses should work with their doctors on supplementation, but this tool is designed for screening in hospital settings.
If a patient is identified as high-risk and receives vitamin B1 supplementation, some symptoms like fatigue or confusion may improve within days to weeks. However, preventing serious complications like Wernicke encephalopathy (a serious brain condition) requires early detection and treatment, making the screening tool’s value in early identification most important.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vitamin B1 and why is it important for sick patients in the hospital?
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is an essential nutrient your body needs to convert food into energy and support nerve function. Critically ill patients are at high risk for deficiency because their bodies use more nutrients and they may not eat normally, making early detection crucial to prevent serious complications like brain damage.
How accurate is this new prediction tool for identifying vitamin B1 deficiency?
The tool correctly identified deficiency about 80% of the time when tested on the patients used to develop it, and 61% of the time when tested on different patients. This moderate-to-good accuracy makes it useful as a screening aid, though doctors should confirm results with actual blood tests.
Can I use this nomogram tool to check if I have vitamin B1 deficiency at home?
No, this tool is specifically designed for hospital doctors to use with critically ill patients. It requires medical measurements and professional interpretation. If you suspect vitamin B1 deficiency, consult your doctor for proper testing and diagnosis.
What are the eight factors the nomogram uses to predict vitamin B1 deficiency?
The tool measures: lymphocyte percentage (a white blood cell type), C-reactive protein (inflammation marker), D-dimer (blood clotting marker), albumin (blood protein), body mass index, sepsis diagnosis, smoking history, and alcohol consumption history. These factors are routinely checked when patients enter the hospital.
If the nomogram identifies me as high-risk, what happens next?
Your doctor would likely order a blood test to confirm vitamin B1 levels. If deficiency is confirmed, you’d receive vitamin B1 supplementation, typically through injections or IV infusions in hospital settings. Early treatment can prevent serious complications.
Want to Apply This Research?
- For hospital staff using a health app: Track the nomogram score for each critically ill patient upon admission, recording the eight component factors (lymphocyte %, CRP, D-dimer, albumin, BMI, sepsis status, smoking history, alcohol history). Monitor whether patients identified as high-risk received vitamin B1 testing and supplementation, and track any vitamin B1 deficiency diagnoses.
- Hospital teams can implement a simple workflow: When a critically ill patient is admitted, calculate their nomogram score using the eight readily available factors. If the score indicates high risk, automatically order vitamin B1 testing and ensure supplementation is considered. Document the screening result in the patient’s chart.
- Track the percentage of high-risk patients who receive vitamin B1 screening, the deficiency detection rate, and patient outcomes. Over time, monitor whether using this screening tool reduces complications associated with undetected vitamin B1 deficiency. Compare outcomes before and after implementing the nomogram in your hospital.
This research describes a prediction tool for use by healthcare professionals in hospital settings. It is not intended for self-diagnosis or home use. If you or a loved one is hospitalized with a serious illness, discuss vitamin B1 screening with your medical team. This article summarizes research findings and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers regarding your specific health situation.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.