Vitamin D and COVID-19 Infection.
THE MEDICAL JOURNAL OF MALAYSIA 2021;
76:881-883. [PMID:
34806677]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the medical world to look at factors that may influence outcomes. There have been connections made between vitamin D and COVID-19, as vitamin D has previously been shown to play a role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a prospective cohort study on 103 patients at Wigan Wrightington and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust looking at serum vitamin D levels of patients with positive COVID-19 swabs. Results were collated and correlations were made to compare vitamin D levels with age; severity of illness; hospital outcomes; and frailty. Comparisons were also made between frailty and outcome.
RESULTS
The results showed that there was a significant statistical difference between vitamin D levels and severity of infection: those who were treated in the intensive care units (ICU) (severe symptoms) had lower vitamin D levels than those treated on the ward (p=0.0446). There was also a correlation between vitamin D levels and frailty: those who were more frail had higher vitamin D levels than fitter patients (P=0.005). Vitamin D and frailty had no effect on hospital outcomes of COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, we concluded that low vitamin D can increase susceptibility of contracting COVID-19, increase severity of infection but does not affect mortality.
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