Does Serum Vitamin D Level Affect COVID-19 Infection and Its Severity?-A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Effective COVID-19 treatments are lacking, making preventive strategies crucial.
• Vitamin D plays a role in immune function, prompting investigation into its association with COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and COVID-19 infection.
• To determine if 25(OH)D levels correlate with COVID-19 severity and clinical characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study compared 62 COVID-19 patients with 80 healthy controls.
• Serum 25(OH)D levels and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) rates were assessed.
• Logistic regression analyzed associations between 25(OH)D, VDD, and COVID-19 status/severity, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 patients had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels and higher VDD rates than controls.
• Severe/critical COVID-19 cases exhibited the lowest 25(OH)D levels and highest VDD rates.
• A 25(OH)D threshold of 41.19 nmol/L was identified as potentially protective against COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for COVID-19, particularly severe cases.
• Elderly individuals and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to severe COVID-19.
• Vitamin D supplementation may offer potential benefits for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.