Assessment of vitamin D serum level association with recovery and improvement factors in COVID-19 patients admitted to the Imam Reza Hospital

Abstract

Covid-19 has evolved from a disease initially confined to Wuhan, China, to a global pandemic through 2020. SARS-CoV-2 triggered the deadliest outbreak ever caused by a coronavirus. We believe that more detailed insight into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis may accelerate developing suitable prevention and treatment options. Many benefits are anticipated from the immune-modulatory effect of vitamin D. Aim of study We have conducted this observational study to evaluate vitamin D levels’ association with recovery factors in Covid-19. Methods and materials This observational study was done in Imam Reza Hospital, a referral center for suspected COVID-19 cases in a period of six months (September 2019 to April 2020). Cases that were admitted to our center were confirmed for SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR or CT-scan. A sample size of 5 ml was obtained from patients and subsequently freezed until laboratory assays. Their symptoms and vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, O2 saturation, and respiration rate) were assessed and recorded on admission day and subsequently on hospital discharge. Results There was a significant relationship between vitamin D subgroups and non-parametric outcomes intubation (P value= 0.018), ICU admission rate (P-value=0.042). The relationships between patients’ fate and malignancies (P-value =0.016) and hypertension (P-value =0.026) were statistically significant. Fate does not correlate with vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients (P-value=0.52). Conclusion Our results show that vitamin D may reduce Covid-19 patient's need for intubation and ICU admission. Moreover, considering its well-established benefits in other diseases (including cardiovascular, autoimmune diseases, diabetes) and the potential benefits in Covid-19, we encourage screening individuals for vitamin D levels and prescribe them with proper doses