Hypomagnesemia and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in patients with long COVID

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Long COVID, a prolonged course of coronavirus disease-2019, presents with diverse clinical manifestations.
• Hypomagnesemia and vitamin D deficiency are frequently observed in patients with long COVID.
• These deficiencies are linked to various neurological and physical symptoms experienced by patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of hypomagnesemia and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in long COVID patients.
• To evaluate the association between these deficiencies and the number of clinical manifestations in long COVID.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 125 adults diagnosed with long COVID.
• Participants were categorized into a risk group (hypomagnesemia and/or vitamin D deficiency) and a control group.
• Serum magnesium levels ≤1.8 mg/dL and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <30 ng/mL defined deficiency.

Main Results:

• The risk group exhibited a significantly higher number of long COVID clinical manifestations compared to the control group.
• Fatigue, memory loss, attention deficits, joint pain, anxiety, sleep disturbances, myalgia, and depression were common in the risk group.
• An adjusted odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI 2.3-12.4, p=0.005) indicated a significant association between hypomagnesemia and vitamin D deficiency in long COVID.

Conclusions:

• Patients with long COVID frequently have deficiencies in magnesium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
• These deficiencies correlate with an increased number of clinical manifestations associated with long COVID.
• Further research into supplementation may be warranted to alleviate long COVID symptoms.