Evaluation of the Relationship between Serum Vitamin D and Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 can cause serious life-threatening complications. Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed to mediate the disease by some studies, however, there is a lack of sufficient data. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 72 Iranian adult patients with COVID-19 were examined. At the beginning of hospitalization, serum levels of vitamin D were checked and patients were divided into four groups as vitamin D above normal, normal, insufficient, or deficient. The prognosis of patients has been evaluated based on serum levels of vitamin D and other underlying factors. Results: Only 30% of patients had normal vitamin D concentrations. Vitamin D status was associated with COVID-19 complications, but not with underlying diseases. In the multivariable logistic regression, COVID-19 prognosis was associated with being male, length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), need for intubation, acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS), and myocarditis. The serum vitamin D correlated with COVID-19 complications including ARDS, QT length, the requirement to ICU, and intubation. Conclusion: This study showed a mediating role for vitamin D in COVID-19 complications and identified the frequent complications in these patients and contributing variables exaggerating prognosis for health authorities to properly manage COVID-19 in hospitals. Further relevant examinations are highly encouraged.