Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated with Increased COVID-19 Severity: Prospective Screening of At-Risk Groups is Medically Indicated
Non-classical actions of Vitamin D are involved in regulation of the immune system including a role in mitigation of excessive inflammation. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency existing prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection could contribute to patients developing severe pulmonary compromise as a result of dysfunctional hyperinflammation. Serum vitamin D concentrations of patients experiencing such severe COVID-19 manifestations that they required ICU care at any point of their hospitalization were compared to serum vitamin D concentrations of patients achieving discharge without the need for any ICU care. Having serum vitamin D < 20 ng/mL was significantly associated with increased COVID-19 severity, p=0.001. It is conjectured that population groups know to have low serum vitamin D should be prospectively screened for deficiency and if found emergently treated. Such action could both decrease the maximum severity suffered by infected individuals and lessen the strain on medical resources by decreasing the percentage of COVID-19 hospital admissions requiring ICU care.
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The results, conclusions and recommendations of this study are consistent with many of the vitamin d and covid 19 studies in the last 6 months. Why, then, are Public health authorities so reluctant to implement any of these recommendations, such as screening for vitamin d levels and supplementing as appropriate. If there are valid medical reasons not to follow what appear to be such commonsense recommendations; shouldn't they be addressed in these studies? Why should these studies be done over and over again if no one is going to implement their recommendations?
Posted 29 Sep, 2020
Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated with Increased COVID-19 Severity: Prospective Screening of At-Risk Groups is Medically Indicated
Posted 29 Sep, 2020
Non-classical actions of Vitamin D are involved in regulation of the immune system including a role in mitigation of excessive inflammation. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency existing prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection could contribute to patients developing severe pulmonary compromise as a result of dysfunctional hyperinflammation. Serum vitamin D concentrations of patients experiencing such severe COVID-19 manifestations that they required ICU care at any point of their hospitalization were compared to serum vitamin D concentrations of patients achieving discharge without the need for any ICU care. Having serum vitamin D < 20 ng/mL was significantly associated with increased COVID-19 severity, p=0.001. It is conjectured that population groups know to have low serum vitamin D should be prospectively screened for deficiency and if found emergently treated. Such action could both decrease the maximum severity suffered by infected individuals and lessen the strain on medical resources by decreasing the percentage of COVID-19 hospital admissions requiring ICU care.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
The results, conclusions and recommendations of this study are consistent with many of the vitamin d and covid 19 studies in the last 6 months. Why, then, are Public health authorities so reluctant to implement any of these recommendations, such as screening for vitamin d levels and supplementing as appropriate. If there are valid medical reasons not to follow what appear to be such commonsense recommendations; shouldn't they be addressed in these studies? Why should these studies be done over and over again if no one is going to implement their recommendations?