The Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with COVID- 19 Severity and Mortality

Background & Aims: There are few studies showing the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and
mortality. This study designed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity and mortality of COVID-
19.
Materials & Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR test results.
Patients were divided into three groups according to their serum 25-OH vitamin D3 levels: group 1 <20 ng/mL, group 2. 20-50
ng/mL, and group 3, ≥50 ng/ml. The relationship of the levels of vitamin D3, as well as the history of diabetes, hypertension,
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) ≤60 mL/min, LDH ≥500 U/L, and Lymphocyte count ≤1500 with
the severity of the disease and its mortality were investigated.
Results: A significant relationship was observed between vitamin D ≤20 ng/mL and the severity (P<0.001) and mortality (P=0.001,
adjusted OR=2.4) of the disease in COVID-19 patients. It was also shown that GFR ≤60 mL/min (P=0.02, adjusted OR=3.6), IHD
(P=0.04, adjusted OR=2.8), LDH ≥500 U/L (P=0.027, adjusted OR=1.8), and lymphocyte count ≤1500 (P=0.002, adjusted OR=2.2)
significantly affected the mortality.
Conclusion: The present study showed a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease and
mortality in COVID-19 patients. These results suggest the need for appropriate health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.