Mortality In COVID-19 Infection Research Articles

Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Type 2 NSTEMI in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.

Data on the incidence of type 2 non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (T2MI) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 has been limited to single-center studies. Given that certain characteristics, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, have been associated with higher mortality in COVID-19 infections, we aimed to define the incidence of T2MI in a national cohort and identify pre-hospital patient characteristics associated with T2MI in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Using the national American Heart Association COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Quality Improvement Registry, we performed a retrospective 4:1 matched (age, sex, race, and body mass index) analysis of controls versus cases with T2MI. We performed (1) conditional multivariable logistic regression to identify predictive pre-hospital patient characteristics of T2MI for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and (2) stratified proportional hazards regression to investigate the association of T2MI with morbidity and mortality. From January 2020 through May 2021, there were 709 (2.2%) out of 32 015 patients with T2MI. Five hundred seventy-nine cases with T2MI were matched to 2171 controls (mean age 70; 43% female). Known coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, payor source, and presenting heart rate were associated with higher odds of T2MI. Anti-hyperglycemic medication and anti-coagulation use before admission were associated with lower odds of T2MI. Those with T2MI had higher morbidity and mortality (hazard ratio, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.13-1.74]; P=0.002). In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, those with a T2MI compared with those without had higher morbidity and mortality. Outpatient anti-hyperglycemic and anti-coagulation use were the only pre-admission factors associated with reduced odds of T2MI.

Frequency of dysnatremia in patients admitted with COVID-19 infection and its prognostic implication.

We aimed to investigate the frequency of dysnatremia among patients admitted with COVID-19 infection and its association with inpatient mortality. This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted for 12 weeks. Serum sodium levels were recorded at admission, during the hospital stay, and within 48 hours of discharge or death. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of mortality. This study included 574 patients (69.7% men, age 55.6 ± 14.4 years). On admission, mean sodium was 135.9 ± 6.4 mEq/L; 39% had hyponatremia and 4.7% had hypernatremia. During admission, hypernatremia increased to 18.8%; maximum sodium in patients who survived was 140.6 ± 5.0 mEq/L versus 151.0 ± 9.9 mEq/L in those who died. The final sodium was 145.4 ± 9.4 mEq/L in patients who died versus 137.7 ± 3.7 mEq/L in those who survived (odds ratio [OR]: 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.32). Other predictors of mortality included ischemic heart disease (OR: 3.65, 95% CI: 1.39-9.61), acute kidney injury (OR: 6.07, 95% CI: 2.39-15.42), invasive ventilation (OR: 28.4, 95% CI: 11.14-72.40), and length of stay (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97). Hypernatremia was frequently observed in patients who were critically ill and died and may be considered a predictor of mortality in COVID-19 infection.

Kidney dysfunction and mortality risk in hospitalized Covid-19 patients: A large Covid-19 centre experience

Objective: Kidney dysfunction is common in patients infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19). The study's objective was to determine the relationship between glomerular filtration rate and mortality in COVID-19 patients.
 Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted into the COVID-19 isolation center from March 2020 through December 2021. The serum creatinine at admission was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the CKD equation method. The patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the eGFR (≥ or < 60ml/minute). The outcome was in-hospital mortality. Kaplan Meier survival plots and cox proportional modelling were employed in the data analysis.
 Results: Atotal of 623 patients were analysed. The mean age was 53.4±15.3 years, and 58.6% were male. An eGFR of < 60 ml/min was observed in 196 (31%) patients. A significantly higher number of deaths occurred among patients with eGFR <60ml/min (32% vs 10.5% (P<0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, disease severity, haemoglobin, ICU admission, and dialysis, the patients with reduced eGFR of (<60ml/min) were twice more likely to die than patients with eGFR ≥60mls/min(AHR 1.95, 95% CI 1.26- 3.04, P= 0.003).
 Conclusion: eGFR of < 60mls/min is associated with an increased risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients. This stresses the need for better recognition of renal dysfunction as a high-risk for mortality in COVID-19 infections.

PROFILE OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 INFECTION

Background: COVID-19 infection has shown to be a multi-system disease and kidneys are commonly affected. AKI is the main risk factor for mortality in COVID-19 infection. There is limited data on Covid-19 infection and kidney involvement among the Nepalese population. Hence this study aims to describe the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes in the setting of Covid-19 infection and acute kidney injury. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal from January 2021 to June 2021. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, NAMS (Reference number: 452/2077/78) Convenience sampling method was used. Data obtained was entered in MS Excel 2010 and statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 21. Results: Out of 101 patients, 73(72%) were male and 28(28%) were female. The mean age of the total study participants was 51.50 years. The prevalence of AKI among patients with COVID-19 in the ICU and ward of Bir Hospital was found to be 13.9%. A statistically significant association between liver disease and AKI with p-value of 0.018 was observed. The majority of death i.e., 57.14% was for KDIGO stage 3 patients. 3(100%) patients requiring renal replacement observed mortality. Conclusions: CLD, higher KDIGO staging of AKI, and the need for renal replacement therapy have been associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 infections.

Prognostic Value of Non-HDL Cholesterol in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

In addition to coronary artery disease, non-high-density lipoprotein(non-HDL-C) provides short and long-term predictive information for many chronic inflammatory diseases such as stroke, hemodialysis, post-renal transplant, non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis, and human immunodeficiency virus. This study examined the predictive value of non-HDL-C measured before SARS-CoV-2 for mortality in COVID-19 infection. This study retrospectively included 1435 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated in the thoracic diseases ward in a single center between January 2020 and June 2022. All patients included in the study had clinical and radiological features and signs of COVID-19 pneumonia. The COVID-19 diagnosis of all patients was confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction studied from an oropharyngeal swab. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The study patients, including 1435 subjects, were divided into 712 patients in the non-surviving group and 723 in the surviving group. While there was no difference between the groups regarding gender, there was a statistically significant age difference. The non-surviving group was older. Age, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), C reactive protein(CRP), triglycerides, D-dimer, and non-HDL-C were independent risk factors for mortality in regression analyses. In correlation analysis, age, CRP, and LDH were positively correlated with non-HDL-C. In the ROC analysis, sensitivity for non-HDL-C was 61.6%, and specificity was 89.2%. We believe that the non-HDL-C level studied before COVID-19 infection can be used as a prognostic biomarker for the disease.

IL-6 as a predictor of survival rate in liver metastatic breast cancer patients with Covid-19 infection: A case series

Introduction and importanceBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with 30 % being metastatic breast cancer. Cancer is known to be a comorbid Covid-19 infection. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the findings of inflammatory activity due to Covid-19 infection. We report IL-6 levels as a prognostic factor for survival rate in patients with liver metastatic breast cancer. Case presentationWe report five cases of liver metastatic breast cancer with various types of primary breast cancer. All patients are infected with Covid-19. IL-6 levels were reported to be elevated in all five patients. All patients were treated according to the national guidelines for the care of Covid-19 patients. All patients are reported to have deceased after being treated for Covid-19 infection. Clinical discussionMetastatic breast cancer has a low prognostic rate. Cancer has been recognized as one of the comorbidities and increases the severity and mortality of Covid-19 infection. Elevated levels of IL-6 are caused by an immune response to infection, and can worsen the outcome of breast cancer patients. Changes in IL-6 levels implicate the survival rate of metastatic breast cancer patients and outcomes during the treatment of Covid-19 infection. ConclusionElevated levels of IL-6 can be a prognostic factor of the survival rate of metastatic breast cancer patients during the treatment of Covid-19 infection.

Factors Related to Severity, Hospitalization, and Mortality of COVID-19 Infection among Patients with Autoimmune Diseases.

Patients with an autoimmune disease could be at higher risk of a poor outcome when contracting COVID-19 infection due to aberrant immune responses and use of immunosuppressant therapies for chronic autoimmune treatment. Here, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the factors related to severity, hospitalization, and mortality among patients with autoimmune diseases. We found 165 cases of patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases who had contracted COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2022. Data on demographical characteristics; autoimmune diagnosis and treatment; COVID-19 vaccination status; and time, severity, and outcome of COVID-19 infection were collected. Most of the subjects were female (93.3%) and autoimmune diagnoses included systemic lupus erythematosus (54.5%), Sjogren's syndrome (33.5%), antiphospholipid syndrome (23%), vasculitis (5.5%), autoimmune thyroid disease (3.6%), rheumatoid arthritis (3.03%), and inflammatory bowel disease (3.03%) among other autoimmune diseases. There were four COVID-19-related deaths in this study. Factors associated with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection in patients with autoimmune diseases included not being vaccinated against COVID-19, taking a steroid of ≥10 mg prednisone-equivalent per day, and having a cardiovascular disease. Taking a steroid of ≥10 mg prednisone-equivalent per day was also associated with hospitalization in the event of COVID-19 infection, while cardiovascular diseases also showed a significant correlation to mortality in patients with autoimmune diseases who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

The Outcome of Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the lives of many people worldwide. Patients with chronic underlying morbidities are vulnerable to get the severe form of the infection. The goal of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a large tertiary center for pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) patients. The primary end point was the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in PAH patients. The secondary end points were investigating the severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection in PAH patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Totally 75 patients were enrolled in the study from December 2019 to October 2021 and 64% were female. The mean ± SD age was 49 ± 16 years. The prevalence of COVID-19 in PAH/chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients was 44%. About 66.7% of patients had comorbidities, which was a prognostic factor for COVID-19 infection in PAH patients (P < 0.001). Fifty-six percent of infected patients were asymptomatic. The most reported symptoms in symptomatic patients were fever (28%) and malaise (29%). Twelve percent of patients were admitted with severe symptoms. The mortality rate in infected individuals was 3.7%. COVID-19 infection in PAH/chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients seems to be associated with high mortality and morbidity. More scientific proof is needed to clarify different aspect of COVID-19 infection in this population.

The effect of thrombosis-related laboratory values on mortality in COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 may cause thrombosis in both venous and arterial systems. Familiarity with the signs and symptoms of thrombosis and its treatment is essential in treating COVID-19 infection and its complications. D-Dimer and mean platelet volume (MPV) are measurements related to the development of thrombosis. This study investigates whether MPV and D-Dimer values could be used to determine the risk of thrombosis and mortality in the COVID-19 early stages. 424 patients who were COVID-19 positive, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, were randomly and retrospectively included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, gender, and length of hospitalization were obtained from the digital records of participants. Participants were divided into living and deceased groups. The patients' biochemical, hormonal, and hematological parameters were analyzed retrospectively. White blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, and monocytes were significantly different in the two groups (p-value <0.001), and their values were lower in the living group than in the deceased group. MPV median values did not differ according to prognosis (p-value = 0.994). While the median value was 9.9 in the survivors, it was 10 in the deceased. Creatinine, procalcitonin, ferritin, and the number of hospitalization days in living patients were significantly lower than in patients who died (p-value <0.001). Median values of D-dimer (mg/L) differ according to prognosis (p-value <0.001). While the median value was 0.63 in the survivors, it was found as 438 in the deceased. Our results did not show any significant relationship between the mortality of COVID-19 patients and their MPV levels. However, a significant association between D-Dimer and mortality in COVID-19 patients was observed.

Tacrolimus Toxicity in Two Renal Transplant Recipients Treated With Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir: A Case Series

Since the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, significant effort has been devoted toward developing therapeutics that decrease the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 infection. The antiviral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) has shown success in reducing hospitalization and death in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection. However, enthusiasm over nirmatrelvir/ritonavir's ability has been met with caution as the result of potential drug–drug interactions. Here, we present 2 cases of tacrolimus toxicity, both in renal transplant recipients, following nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use. These cases are significant because, although the potential for pharmacologic interactions with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is known, few cases of actual harm have been documented.

Current topics of frailty in association with hypertension and other medical conditions.

Frailty is a state of increased vulnerability to stress resulting from physiological decline associated with aging. Topics of hypertension management and its association with frailty and cognitive function, recent studies of coronavirus disease 2019 infection (COVID-19) in elderly is discussed in this narrative review. While various guidelines for hypertension recommend that frailty is taken into account in treatment decisions, specific assessment tools and clinical decision criteria have not been explicitly established. Hypertension is prevalent in frail individuals, although a direct association has not been reported. Therefore, optimal blood pressure (BP) control is critical for managing cardiovascular risk reduction and preserving quality of life in frail hypertensive patients. BP typically decreases in later life or situations in which patients are dependent on nursing care. Mortality is reported to be high among frail patients with lower BP, raising questions about appropriate BP targets for frail patients. Cognitive decline is one of the domains of frailty, and is associated with a loss of autonomy, lack of self-management, and compromised quality of life. It remains to be clarified whether antihypertensive treatment is beneficial for cognitive function especially in older individuals. Increased severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection has been reported in older people. Clinical manifestations and biomarkers particular to older patients, and lifestyle changes including social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic is reported. From the knowledge from recent literatures, future perspectives for holistic approach and management of frail older people is addressed.

Impact of sepsis in patients admitted with covid-19 infection in a tertiary care center in Delhi. A retrospective cross-sectional study.

COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as one of the worst humanitarian crises in human history. Viral sepsis is implicated as a major source of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. The study provides an insight into impact of COVID -19 associated sepsis on the patient's clinical course and mortality. The study was conducted on 112 participants admitted with symptomatic COVID -19 infection in a COVID -19 designated center in New Delhi, India between July and October 2020. 41.1% (n=46) of the participants had critical disease which includes sepsis. Out of 46 Critical patients 19 (41.3%) had sepsis, 21(45.7%) had septic shock and 6 (18.8%) had Sepsis with ARDS. Sepsis and septic shock at time of presentation was associated with higher mortality. Severe and critical illness was marked by advance age, comorbidities like Diabetes mellitus, high total leucocyte count and deranged renal and hepatic function in the study. Thus COVID-19 induced sepsis is an important determinant of disease severity precipitating multiorgan dysfunction and adverse outcome in patients.

Cytokine Levels and Severity of Illness Scoring Systems to Predict Mortality in COVID-19 Infection.

Various scoring systems and cytokines have been cited as predicting disease severity in COVID-19 infection. This study analyzed the link between mortality rate, levels of cytokines, and scoring systems such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Charlson Comorbidity Index in patients infected with COVID-19. Adult patients infected with COVID-19 were followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) and analyzed prospectively. We measured serum cytokine levels (Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and High mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1)) and recorded GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, and Charlson comorbidity index scores on admission to the ICU. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was performed to predict mortality from IL-1β, IL-6 IL-10, IL-8, TNF-α, and HMGB-1 values. Study participants were grouped as follows: Group A, survivors, and Group B, deceased, during the 28-day follow-up. The mean age was 65.69 (±13.56) in Group A (n = 36) and 70.85 (±10.06) in Group B (n = 27). The female/male ratio was 23/40. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbid illnesses, GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, and Charlson scores, duration of hospitalization or ICU admission, therapeutic choices, and lymphocyte, PMNL, NLR, platelet, D-dimer, fibrinogen, GGT, CRP, procalcitonin, and lactate levels were similar between the groups. The frequency of acute kidney injury (AKI) was higher in Group B (p = 0.005). Serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, HMGB-1, ferritin, and LDH values were higher, and PaO2/FiO2 was lower in Group B than in Group A. ROC analysis showed that there was an association between serum IL-1β (>1015.7), serum IL-6 (>116.7), serum IL-8 (>258.4), serum IL-10 (>247.5), serum TNF-α (>280.7), and serum HMGB-1 (>23.5) and mortality. AKI gave rise to a greater risk of mortality (odds ratio: 7.081, p = 0.014). Mortality was associated with serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and HMGB-1 but not with GCS, APACHE II, SOFA, or Charlson comorbidity index scores. AKI increased the risk of mortality by seven times. Our findings suggest that cytokine levels (serum IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and HMGB-1) were predictors of mortality in COVID-19 infection. In addition, our results might give an opinion about the course of COVID-19 infection.

The Role of Vitamin D in Treatment and Prophylaxis of Viral Infections

Importance: Researchers and scientific expertise are in the marathon for reaching to effective therapeutics and powerful protective measures against viral infectious diseases generally and SARS-CoV2 infection (COVID-19) specially. Viral infections e.g. SARs-CoV2 causes immune activation and systemic hyper-inflammation which can lead to respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Vitamin D status may influence the severity of responses to viral infections and that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency will be closely aligned to increase morbidity. In this paper we try to emphasize the role of vitamin D in the treatment and protection against viral infections. Relevance: Vitamin D helps in decreasing the ‘pro-inflammatory cytokines’ in the lungs and acts in immuno-modulatory function, and also it will increase the anti-inflammatory, antiviral responses of the respiratory epithelial cells during infection. Recent research has indicated that vitamin D may have immune supporting properties through modulation of both the adaptive and innate immune system either by regulation of cytokines and cell signaling pathways. So, vitamin D acts as an important factor in decline cytokines storm in COID-19 infection. Conclusion: The highly infectious nature of viruses and the increased morbidity and mortality without proper therapy and vaccine, many doctors in hospitals and other health care settings try to applicate good protocols of therapeutics to decrease the harmful effects of viral infection. Vitamin D is one of these supplements in the treatment protocol. Discontinuing vitamins could increase the mortality and morbidity of those affected, especially in deficient/ insufficient individuals. Obtaining serum 25 (OH) D levels in all patients with viral respiratory infections, especially COVID-19, could help in the detection and treatment of Vitamin D deficiency and potentially decrease recovery time and improve outcome. Even though evidence suggests that vitamin D has the anti-inflammatory, antiviral properties, so it will help in controlling trials to decrease morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19, prognoz ve laboratuvar parametreleri

Dear editör,&#x0D; We read your article titled ‘The Relationship of Laboratory Parameters and Rates with Prognosis and Mortality in COVID-19 Infection’ with interest (1). We think that this study will contribute to the literature in terms of the prognosis of COVID-19.

Potential Benefit of Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19.

Vitamin D is an important nutrient in the body that plays a vital role in immune system function. Several epidemiologic studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are found in a large percentage of COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure and that vitamin D levels may predict mortality in COVID-19 infection. Based on these findings, vitamin D supplementation may be an effective approach to preventing and/or treating COVID-19. Potential underlying mechanisms and clinical trial data evaluating the impact of supplementation in humans are described below.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Australian Patients with Solid Organ Cancers.

Background: Vaccination is the cornerstone of the global public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 infection is seen in people with cancer. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been observed in this medically vulnerable population, although associated attitudes and beliefs remain poorly understood. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of people with solid organ cancers was conducted through nine health services across Australia. Demographics, cancer-related characteristics and vaccine uptake were collected. Perceptions and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccination were assessed using the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Complacency Scale and the Disease Influenced Vaccine Acceptance Scale-6. Results: Between June and October 2021, 2691 people with solid organ cancers completed the survey. The median age was 62.5 years (SD = 11.8; range 19–95), 40.9% were male, 71.3% lived in metropolitan areas and 90.3% spoke English as their first language. The commonest cancer diagnoses were breast (36.6%), genitourinary (18.6%) and gastrointestinal (18.3%); 59.2% had localized disease and 56.0% were receiving anti-cancer therapy. Most participants (79.7%) had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Vaccine uptake was higher in people who were older, male, metropolitan, spoke English as a first language and had a cancer diagnosis for more than six months. Vaccine hesitancy was higher in people who were younger, female, spoke English as a non-dominant language and lived in a regional location, and lower in people with genitourinary cancer. Vaccinated respondents were more concerned about being infected with COVID-19 and less concerned about vaccine safety and efficacy. Conclusions: People with cancer have concerns about acquiring COVID-19, which they balance against vaccine-related concerns about the potential impact on their disease progress and/or treatment. Detailed exploration of concerns in cancer patients provides valuable insights, both for discussions with individual patients and public health messaging for this vulnerable population.

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) Is Not a Predicting Marker of Severity but of Mortality in COVID-19 Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

(1) Introduction: In the present study, we investigate the prognostic value of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a marker of severity and mortality in COVID-19 infection. (2) Methods: Between 1 March and 30 April 2020, we conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate to severe coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), all of whom were hospitalized after being admitted to the emergency department (ED). (3) Results: A total of 1035 patients were included in our study. Neither lymphocytes, platelets or PLR were associated with disease severity. Lymphocyte count was significantly lower and PLR values were significantly higher in the group of patients who died, and both were associated with mortality in the univariate analysis (OR: 0.524, 95% CI: (0.336–0.815), p = 0.004) and (OR: 1.001, 95% CI: (1.000–1.001), p = 0.042), respectively. However, the only biological parameter significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis was platelet count (OR: 0.996, 95% CI: (0.996–1.000), p = 0.027). The best PLR value for predicting mortality in COVID-19 was 356.6 (OR: 3.793, 95% CI: (1.946–7.394), p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: A high PLR value is however associated with excess mortality.

The relationship between serum vitamin D and antibody response following two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine

Abstract Objectives Low vitamin D levels are associated with the severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection. Nevertheless, the relationship between the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination is not fully elucidated. Herein, we explored the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 IgG (sCOVG) and 25(OH)D. Methods In this prospective observational case-control study, we used an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay method to measure sCOVG and 25(OH)D levels in 96 patients 28 days following the second dose of inactivated vaccine. We considered the positivity for sCOVG at three different index values: 1, 2.42, and 7. We classified 25(OH)D levels between 0 and 20 ng/mL as vitamin D deficiency, 21–29 ng/mL as insufficiency and 30 ng/mL as sufficiency. Results Median sCOVG index was 6.02 (interquartile ranges 3.41–11.63) and median 25(OH)D level was 11.5 ng/mL (interquartile ranges 10–17). We could not find a significant correlation between 25(OH)D and sCOVG levels (Spearman’s rho, r=0.175, p=0.12). When considering the variables categorically, we did also not conclude significant relationships between adequate or inadequate antibody responses in patients with deficient, insufficient, and sufficient 25(OH)D by three sCOVG cut-off index values (1, 2.42, and 7) (Chi-square test, p=0.8, 0.29, and 0.08, respectively). Conclusions The relevant literature is limited on the association between the antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines and vitamin D levels. Although the previous research suggested conflicting findings of the response to mRNA vaccines, we could not conclude a significant relationship between sCOVG and 25(OH)D levels 28 days after two doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.

Functional decline, long term symptoms and course of frailty at 3-months follow-up in COVID-19 older survivors, a prospective observational cohort study

BackgroundAging is one of the most important prognostic factors increasing the risk of clinical severity and mortality of COVID-19 infection. However, among patients over 75 years, little is known about post-acute functional decline.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify factors associated with functional decline 3 months after COVID-19 onset, to identify long term COVID-19 symptoms and transitions between frailty statesafter COVID-19 onset in older hospitalized patients.MethodsThis prospective observational study included COVID-19 patients consecutively hospitalized from March to December 2020 in Acute Geriatric Ward in Nantes University Hospital. Functional decline, frailty status and long term symptoms were assessed at 3 month follow up. Functional status was assessed using the Activities of Daily Living simplified scale (ADL). Frailty status was evaluated using Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). We performed multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with functional decline.ResultsAmong the 318 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection, 198 were alive 3 months after discharge. At 3 months, functional decline occurred in 69 (36%) patients. In multivariable analysis, a significant association was found between functional decline and stroke (OR = 4,57, p = 0,003), history of depressive disorder (OR = 3,05, p = 0,016), complications (OR = 2,24, p = 0,039), length of stay (OR = 1,05, p = 0,025) and age (OR = 1,08, p = 0,028). At 3 months, 75 patients described long-term symptoms (49.0%). Of those with frailty (CFS scores ≥5) at 3-months follow-up, 30% were not frail at baseline. Increasing frailty defined by a worse CFS state between baseline and 3 months occurred in 41 patients (26.8%).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that both the severity of the COVID-19 infection and preexisting medical conditions correlates with a functional decline at distance of the infection.This encourages practitioners to establish discharge personalized care plan based on a multidimensional geriatric assessment and in parallel on clinical severity evaluation.