Vitamin D in COVID-19

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with clinical outcome ranging from asymptomatic to severe disease, and even death to some. It posed a terrifying challenge to healthcare system worldwide. Several observational and clinical trials has reported that, Vitamin D deficiency has contributed to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Case fatality rate increases with age and comorbidities, both of which are associated with decreased Vitamin D level. Therefore, this study is done to study the prevalence of 25(OH)Vitamin D in RT-PCR positive COVID-19 cases and RT-PCR negative controls.This is a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Manipur on 88 RT-PCR positive Covid-19 cases and 88 COVID-19 negative controls over a period of 2 years. Analysis of the sample was done by Liaison 25(OH) Vitamin D Total Chemiluminescence assay(CLIA).In this study, statistically significant (p-0.018) lower plasma 25(OH)Vitamin D level is seen in COVID-19 positive cases (median 28±20.47) when compared to Covid-19 negative controls(median 33.50±10.66). The number of 25(OH) Vitamin D deficient is higher in Covid-19 positive cases when compared to Covid-19 negative controls -46(52.3%) and 30(34%) respectively with a high statistically significant value (p-0.015).COVID-19 positive cases have higher tendency to have suboptimal plasma 25(OH) Vitamin D level which may contribute to the high hospitalization risk in COVID-19 infection. This finding is important as it can identify population at risk, and contribute to interventions in reducing the risk of hospitalization associated with COVID-19 infection.