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The Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and Severity in Illness in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nirav Nimavat1, Shruti Singh2, Divyang Patel3
1Community Medicine, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, IND.
Insights
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to severe COVID-19 outcomes. Low vitamin D levels increase the risk of severe illness in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, impacting prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic caused high mortality globally.
- Limited treatment options for SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbated the burden.
- Vitamin D possesses crucial anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity.
- To explore Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency prevalence in COVID-19 patients.
- To identify risk factors for mortality, including diabetes and hypertension.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted over 3.5 months at a tertiary care hospital in Patna, India.
- Chemiluminescence-based immunoassay was used to measure Vitamin D levels.
- Demographic data, comorbidities, and mortality risk factors were analyzed.
Main Results:
- 13.6% of 225 COVID-19 patients had Vitamin D deficiency, and 38.9% had insufficiency.
- Vitamin D levels showed statistical significance across age groups, sex, and smoking status.
- Vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of severe illness by nearly five times (aOR 4.72).
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D levels are associated with COVID-19 illness severity.
- Vitamin D status can aid in estimating prognosis for COVID-19 patients.
- Monitoring Vitamin D may help in modifying treatment protocols for severe COVID-19.
Introduction:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hit the world badly with high mortality. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increased the COVID-19 burden among developed and developing countries due to the unavailability of proven treatment options. Vitamin D has many important anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, and anti-viral functions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between Vitamin D in COVID-19.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Patna, India. All the patients were enrolled during the period of 3.5 months. A chemiluminescence-based immunoassay analyzer was used to quantify Vitamin D among COVID-19 patients. The study compared Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among different groups, i.e., age, sex, BMI, comorbidity, etc. Diabetes and hypertension were evaluated as risk factors for mortality.
Results:
A total of 225 patients were investigated. Of these, 13.6% had Vitamin D deficiency and 38.9% had insufficiency. Vitamin D level was statistically significant among different age groups, sex, and smokers. Patients aged >60 years were 23 times more likely to have a severe illness (adjusted OR (aOR) 23.53, 95%CI 4.67-118.61), whereas those aged 40 to 60 years were 11 times more likely to have a severe illness (aOR 10.86, 95%CI 2.39-49.31). Patients with many comorbidities, on the other hand, had a tenfold greater chance of severe COVID-19 (aOR 9.94, 95%CI 2.47-39.88). A deficiency of vitamin D increased the chance of a serious illness by nearly five times (aOR 4.72, 95%CI 1.31-17.03).
Conclusion:
Vitamin D level was associated with severity of illness; it can be used to estimate the prognosis of COIVD-19 patients and aid in the modification of treatment protocols.
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