Association between vitamin D status and physical performance in COVID-19 survivors: Results from the Gemelli against COVID-19 post-acute care project
Galluzzo et al.,
Association between vitamin D status and physical performance in COVID-19 survivors: Results from the Gemelli..,
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, doi:10.1016/j.mad.2022.111684
Analysis of 681 COVID-19 survivors in Italy, showing a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Low vitamin D levels were associated with poor physical performance, and were more common in patients that had been hospitalized.
Galluzzo et al., 13 May 2022, Italy, peer-reviewed, mean age 53.4, 10 authors, study period April 2020 - March 2021.
Contact:
riccardo.calvani@policlinicogemelli.it.
Abstract: Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 205 (2022) 111684
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mechagedev
Association between vitamin D status and physical performance in
COVID-19 survivors: Results from the Gemelli against COVID-19 post-acute
care project
Vincenzo Galluzzo a, Francesca Ciciarello a, Matteo Tosato a, Maria Beatrice Zazzara a,
Cristina Pais a, Giulia Savera a, Riccardo Calvani a, *, Anna Picca a, Emanuele Marzetti a, b,
Francesco Landi a, b, on behalf of Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Team
a
b
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Department of Geriatrics and Orthopedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
A R T I C L E I N F O
A B S T R A C T
Keywords:
Aging
Six-minute walking test
Physical performance
Exercise tolerance
Geriatrics
Aim: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency in COVID-19 survivors and the
relationship between vitamin D status and physical performance.
Methods: Vitamin D status was assessed in a sample of patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and were
admitted to a post-acute outpatient service at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
(Rome, Italy). Participants were offered comprehensive medical assessment, including physical performance and
muscle strength tests. Self-rated health was assessed. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum concentration
of 25-OH vitamin D < 20 ng/mL.
Results: Mean age of 681 participants was 53.4 ± 15.2 years and 49% were women. Vitamin D deficiency was
detected in 35.6% of the whole study population, and in 40.2% of those 65 and older. Vitamin D deficiency was
associated with diabetes, higher body mass index, and COVID-19 severity, and showed a seasonal pattern with a
peak in autumn/winter. Participants with vitamin D deficiency performed poorer on the six-minute walking test,
with the lowest performance observed in those 65 and older. No significant associations with any other pa
rameters were found.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that vitamin D deficiency is frequent in COVID-19 survivors, especially in older
adults. Low vitamin D levels are associated with poor physical performance, in particular in old age.
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