ABSTRACT
Background Vitamin D has been proposed to have immunomodulatory functions and therefore play a role in coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, there is no conclusive evidence on its impact on COVID-19 infection and evolution.
Objective To study the association between COVID-19 infection and vitamin D deficiency in patients of a terciary university hospital. To investigate the clinical evolution and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency.
Methods Using big-data analytics and artificial intelligence through the SAVANA Manager clinical platform, we analysed clinical data from patients with COVID-19 atended in a terciary university hospital from March 2020 to March 2021.
Results Of the 143.157 analysed patients, 36.261 subjects had COVID-19 infection (25.33%); during this period; of these 2588 had vitamin D deficiency (7.14%). Among subjects with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency, there was a higher proportion of women OR 1.45 [95% CI 1.33-1.57], adults older than 80 years OR 2.63 [95%CI 2.38-2.91], people living in nursing homes OR 2.88 [95%CI 2.95-3.45] and walking dependence OR 3.45 [95%CI 2.85-4.26]. Regarding clinical course, a higher number of subjects with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency required hospitalitation OR 2.41 [95%CI 2.22-2-61], intensive unit care (ICU) OR 2.22 [95% CI 1.64-3.02], had a longer mean hospital stay 3.94 (2.29) p=0.02 and higher mortality OR 1.82 [95%CI 1.66-2.01].)
Conclusion Low serum 25 (OH) Vitamin-D level was significantly associated with a worse clinical evolution and prognosis of COVID-19 infection. We found a higher proportion of institutionalised and dependent people over 80 years of age among patients with COVID-19 and vitamin D deficiency.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
