[SARS-CoV-2 morbidity depending on vitamin D status]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The potential link between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity is a significant global health concern.
• Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are prevalent issues worldwide, necessitating further investigation into their health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in Russia.
• To investigate the association between vitamin D status and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates across eight Federal Districts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of serum 25(OH)D levels in 304,564 patients from September 2019 to October 2020.
• Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results with vitamin D levels in 21,506 patients.

Main Results:

• Over 60% of the study population exhibited vitamin D deficiency.
• No significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were observed across varying vitamin D levels (deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency).
• Vitamin D deficiency was more common in individuals over 75 years old, while those under 18 often had sufficient levels.

Conclusions:

• No association was found between vitamin D status and COVID-19 incidence in the studied Russian population.
• Vitamin D deficiency remains a widespread issue across all investigated regions, particularly affecting the elderly.