Case-Control Study to Evaluate Zinc Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Oxygen Requirement in Patients with COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Immunology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Zinc is a vital trace element crucial for immune system maturation.
• Previous research suggests a link between viral infections and low serum zinc levels.
• The role of zinc status in COVID-19 outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure serum zinc levels in COVID-19 patients.
• To assess the association between zinc deficiency and oxygen requirements in COVID-19.
• To evaluate the Odds Ratio (OR) and Relative Risk (RR) of zinc deficiency for COVID-19 severity.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter case-control study involving 90 COVID-19 cases and 30 controls.
• Serum zinc levels were measured in patients across three tertiary hospitals in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of differences and calculate risk ratios.

Main Results:

• COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly lower mean serum zinc levels (53.38 mcg/dl) compared to controls (73.23 mcg/dl).
• Patients requiring oxygen therapy had significantly lower zinc levels (49.33 mcg/dl) than those not on oxygen (64.51 mcg/dl).
• Low zinc levels were associated with a 1.91-fold increased risk of COVID-19 and a 1.93-fold increased risk of requiring oxygen supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Lower serum zinc levels are associated with a higher likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
• Zinc deficiency significantly increases the risk of hypoxia and the need for oxygen support in COVID-19 patients.
• Maintaining adequate zinc levels may be important for immune function and managing COVID-19 severity.