Vitamin D deficiency is associated with greater severity of COVID-19 infection

Objectives:
Does vitamin D deficiency increase severity of COVID-19 infection?

Study design:
This review article included 17 observational studies with 2,756 COVID-19 patients.

Results and conclusions:   
The investigators found vitamin D deficiency was associated with significantly higher mortality [OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.50 to 4.05, 12 studies. HR = 4.11, 95% CI = 2.40 to 7.04, 3 studies], higher rates of hospital admissions [OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.48 to 3.21, 3 studies] and longer hospital stays [0.52 days, 95% CI = 0.25 to 0.80, 2 studies] as compared to non-vitamin D deficient status.

The investigators found subgroup analyses based on different cut offs for defining vitamin D deficiency, study geographic locations and latitude also showed similar trends.

The investigators concluded vitamin D deficiency is associated with greater severity of COVID-19 infection. Further studies are warranted to determine if vitamin D supplementation can decrease severity of COVID-19.

Original title:
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with COVID-19 Infection Severity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis by Wang Z, Joshi A, […], Kumar S.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34160843/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on vitamin D and coronavirus right here.