Endocrine Abstracts

Background and objective

There are few studies showing the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. This study designed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity and mortality of COVID-19.

Methods

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR test results. Patients were divided into three groups according to their serum 25-OH vitamin D3 levels: group 1 < 20 ng/ml, group 2. 20–50 ng/ml, and group 3, ≥ 50 ng/ml. The relationship of the levels of vitamin D3, as well as the history of diabetes, hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Glomerular Filtration Rate(GFR) ≤ 60 ml/min, LDH ≥ 500 U/l, and Lymphocyte count ≤ 1500 with the severity of the disease and its mortality were investigated.

Results

A significant relationship was observed between vitamin D ≤ 20 ng/ml and the severity of the disease (P < 0.001) and mortality (P = 0.001, adjusted OR = 2.4) in COVID-19 patients. It was also shown that GFR ≤ 60 ml/min (P = 0.02, adjusted OR = 3.6), IHD (P = 0.04, adjusted OR = 2.8), LDH ≥ 500 U/l (P = 0.027, adjusted OR = 1.8) and lymphocyte count ≤ 1500 (P = 0.002, adjusted OR = 2.2) significantly affected the mortality.

Conclusion

The present study showed a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease and mortality in COVID-19 patients. These results suggest the need for appropriate health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.