"Vitamin C Deficiency in Hospitalized Adults: Systematic Screening Vs. Traditional Judgment - a Before-and-After Observational Study"

Imagine you're in the hospital because you've had some unusual bleeding, like nosebleeds, bruising easily, or blood in your urine. Doctors know that sometimes, these bleeding issues can be a sign of a hidden problem: very low vitamin C levels, also called scurvy. This study is all about understanding how often this happens in hospital patients who are bleeding, and finding the best way for doctors to spot it.

Currently, doctors often decide whether to check a patient's vitamin C levels based on their experience and what they observe. But what if there was a more systematic, structured way? This study will compare that traditional approach to a new, organised screening plan. This new plan would mean that if a patient has certain types of bleeding, they would automatically be checked for vitamin C deficiency. The main goal is to see if this new, organised approach is better at catching low vitamin C levels than simply relying on a doctor's judgment.

The researchers also want to find out if having low vitamin C is connected to other health problems often seen in hospital patients. For example, they'll look to see if it's linked to anaemia (low red blood cells), other vitamin deficiencies, infections, or even how long someone needs to stay in the hospital. By understanding these connections, doctors can get a clearer picture of how vitamin C deficiency affects overall health and how to ensure patients get the best care.