Vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severe pneumonia: a prospective case-control study
Fortunato J Cardoso, Carla A Araujo, Jose Roberto Silva Junior, Angelica Guimaraes, Michelle Viana Taveiro, Jose Natal Figueiroa, Joao G Alves
doi:10.1101/2024.06.10.24308690
Introduction: The hypothesis that a low vitamin D levels is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 has not been completely proven, especially with severe pneumonia. Objective: The goal of this study was to confirm the link between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severe pneumonia. Methods: This prospective case-control study involved 307 patients who developed severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Age-and sex-matched controls (307) were selected from the same population; 307 patients with mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 who were not hospitalized. Vitamin D levels were assessed during the duration of the disease. Results: The mean vitamin D level was lower in the severe COVID-19 pneumonia group as compared to the control group; 26.8 ± 7.6 ng/mL vs 28.6 ± 7.4 ng/mL, p<0.002. There were more patients with a sufficient level of vitamin D in the control group as compared to the control group; 127 (20.6%) vs 89 (14.5%), p<0.001. Multivariable analysis showed that a deficient vitamin D level was associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 pneumonia (OR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.79, 5.10CI), p<0.001. Conclusion: A sufficient vitamin D level is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 severe pneumonia.
Competing interests
None declared
Authors' contributions JGBA and FJC conceived the study. FJC, CAA, JRSJ, and MRT participated in the data collection. JGBA and JNF analyzed the data. JGBA and FJC wrote the main manuscript text. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
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doi:10.1080/07315724.2020.1826005{ 'institution': [{'name': 'medRxiv'}],
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'abstract': '<jats:p>Introduction: The hypothesis that a low vitamin D levels is associated with a higher '
'risk for severe COVID-19 has not been completely proven, especially with severe pneumonia. '
'Objective: The goal of this study was to confirm the link between vitamin D levels and '
'COVID-19 severe pneumonia. Methods: This prospective case-control study involved 307 patients '
'who developed severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. '
'Age- and sex-matched controls (307) were selected from the same population; 307 patients with '
'mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 who were not hospitalized. Vitamin D levels were assessed '
'during the duration of the disease. Results: The mean vitamin D level was lower in the severe '
'COVID-19 pneumonia group as compared to the control group; 26.8 7.6 ng/mL vs 28.6 7.4 ng/mL, '
'p<0.002. There were more patients with a sufficient level of vitamin D in the control '
'group as compared to the control group; 127 (20.6%) vs 89 (14.5%), p<0.001. Multivariable '
'analysis showed that a deficient vitamin D level was associated with a higher risk for severe '
'COVID-19 pneumonia (OR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.79, 5.10CI), p<0.001. Conclusion: A sufficient '
'vitamin D level is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 severe pneumonia.</jats:p>',
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