Possible association of vitamin D status with lung involvement and outcome in patients with COVID19: a retrospective study.

A lower vitamin D status was associated with negative clinical outcomes and decreased survival in hospitalized patients in Iran with COVID-19.

To evaluate the prognostic role of serum vitamin D concentration on the extent of lung involvement and final outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

• Lower concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were significantly associated with a greater extent of lung involvement.
• Lower concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were significantly associated with poorer outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
• The odds of death were significantly higher in vitamin D deficient patients (25(OH)D < 25 ng/mL).

Seventy-three subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted to one hospital in Iran between February 28, 2020 and April 19, 2020.  Average age 55, (47 males, 26 females).

• This study is assessing vitamin D status, not supplementation, and making associations. It doesn’t consider all other aspects of the patient that could influence outcomes.
• This was not a randomized control trial so it is a bit of a jump for the authors to conclude that supplementation would improve outcomes, the study only suggests an association of vitamin D status and outcomes.
• The study sample size was small and included only one study center.

This study provides new evidence for clinicians and health policy makers to consider vitamin D supplementation for the improvement of clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. We believe that vitamin D might be able to protect patients against developing a severe form of the disease once infected.

• Patients’ demographic data and past medical history including the presence of hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, asthma, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease and conditions which might compromise their immune system were recorded.
• Symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, dyspnea, chilling, headache, myalgia and gastrointestinal symptoms were collected from medical documents.
• Vital signs (pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation on room air) were recorded for each patient.
• Patients’ final disease outcome (death vs discharge) was also collected.
• Serum calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and 25(OH)D were tested.
• CT scans of the lung were taken.

Abrishami A, Dalili N, Mohammadi Torbati P, Asgari R, Arab-Ahmadi M, Behnam B, Sanei-Taheri M. Possible association of vitamin D status with lung involvement and outcome in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Oct 30:1–9. doi: 10.1007/s00394-020-02411-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33123774; PMCID: PMC7595877.