Calcifediol Treatment and COVID-19-Related Outcomes
Nogués et al.,
Calcifediol Treatment and COVID-19-Related Outcomes,
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab405
Quasi-randomized trial with 930 hospitalized patients, 447 treated with calcifediol, showing significantly lower ICU admission and death with treatment. Note that the randomization in this trial is by ward. Authors report that patients were allocated to empty beds available at admission time regardless of patient conditions, and that staff in all wards followed the same protocol.
The earlier preprint for this article was censored by the Lancet. The Lancet reportedly requested a review from a Twitter user that posted negative comments
[github.com]. The review provides useful feedback for the authors to improve the reporting of the cluster nature of the RCT, and to explain the delay in registration, however it is highly unusual to censor a preprint in this way. Authors responded to the issues raised here:
[pubpeer.com]
risk of death, 79.0% lower, RR 0.21, p = 0.001, treatment 21 of 447 (4.7%), control 62 of 391 (15.9%), NNT 9.0, adjusted per study, ITT.
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risk of death, 48.0% lower, RR 0.52, p = 0.001, treatment 500, control 338, adjusted per study, including patients treated later.
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risk of ICU admission, 87.0% lower, RR 0.13, p < 0.001, treatment 20 of 447 (4.5%), control 82 of 391 (21.0%), NNT 6.1, adjusted per study, ITT.
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Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates
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Nogués et al., 22 Jan 2021, prospective quasi-randomized (ward), Spain, peer-reviewed, 16 authors, dosage calcifediol 0.5mg day 1, 0.27mg day 3, 0.27mg day 7, 0.27mg day 15, 0.27mg day 30.
Abstract: Calcifediol treatment and COVID-19-related outcomes
X. Nogues1,2, D. Ovejero1, J.M. Quesada-Gomez3, R. Bouillon4, D. Arenas5, J. Pascual5, J. Villar-Garcia6,
A. Rial2, C. Gimenez-Argente2, ML. Cos2, J. Rodriguez-Morera2, I. Campodarve2, R. Guerri-Fernandez1,6,
M. Pineda-Moncusí1 and N. Garcia-Giralt1
Affiliations
1. IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad
y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Barcelona, Spain
2. Internal Medicine Department, Hospital del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona,
Spain
3. Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC). Fundación Progreso y Salud.
CIBER de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES). Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía.
Universidad de Córdoba. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain. jmquesada@uco.es
4. Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU
Leuven, Herestraat, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Roger.bouillon@kuleuven.be – orchid number 0000 -00026446-6763
5. Department of Nephrology, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
6. Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, Barcelona, Spain.
Corresponding author:
Natalia Garcia-Giralt, PhD
Postdoc Researcher in CIBER in frailty and healthy ageing
Associate Lecturer of University of Barcelona
e-mail: ngarcia@imim.es
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3771318
Summary
Background COVID-19 is a major health problem because of acute respiratory distress syndrome,
saturation of intensive care units (ICU) and mortality.
Methods Our study aims to elucidate the effect of calcifediol [25(OH)D3] treatment on ICU admission
and mortality, in patients admitted to COVID-19 wards of Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. A total of
930 participants were included. Participants (n=551) were randomly assigned to calcifediol treatment
(532 ug on day one and 266 ug on day 3, 7, 15, and 30) at the time of hospital admission or as controls
(n=379).
Findings ICU assistance was required by 110 (11.8%) participants. Out of 551 patients treated with
calcifediol at admission, 30 (5.4%) required ICU, compared to 80 out of 379 controls (21.1%; p<0.0001).
Logistic regression of calcifediol treatment on ICU admission, adjusted by age, gender, linearized
25(OH)D levels at baseline, and comorbidities showed that treated patients had a reduced risk to require
ICU (RR 0.18 [95% CI 0.11;0.29]). Baseline 25(OH)D levels inversely correlated with the risk of ICU
admission (RR 0.53 [95% CI 0.35;0.80]).
Overall mortality was 10%. In the Intention-to-treat analysis, 36 (6.5%) out of 551 patients treated with
calcifediol at admission died compared to 57 patients (15%) out of 379 controls (p=0.001). Adjusted
results showed a reduced mortality for more of 60%. Higher baseline 25(OH)D levels were significantly
associated with decreased mortality (RR 0.40 [95% CI 0.24;0.67]). Age and obesity were also predictors
of mortality.
Interpretation In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, calcifediol treatment at the time of
hospitalization significantly reduced ICU admission and mortality.
Funding CIBERFES and FIS (ISCIII), and FEDER funds
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3771318
Research in context
Evidence before this study
Adequate vitamin D status has emerged as a potentially preventing..
Late treatment
is less effective
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