COVID-19 reminds us: Community vitamin D deficiency

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the vitamin D levels between the group of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and healthy controls, and to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and various clinical findings.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 262 COVID-19-confirmed patients and 157 healthy controls were included in the study.RESULTS: The mean vitamin D level in the COVID-19 group (12.8 +/- 8.9 ng/mL) was significantly lower than the control group (15.2 +/- 12.1 ng/mL) (p=0.015). The rate of those with vitamin D levels below 10 ng/mL in the COVID-19 group (49.6%) was significantly higher than the control group (39.5%) (p=0.044). In the logistic regression analysis, it was found that those with a vitamin D level below 10 ng/mL had a 1.508-fold increased risk of COVID-19 compared to those who had 10 ng/mL and above (Odds ratio: 1.01-2.252). According to the risk analysis, those who have vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL are 1,224 times higher than those who have 20 ng/mL and above; those under 30 ng/mL were found to have an increased risk of 2.01 times compared to those of 30 ng/mL and above.CONCLUSIONS: From the point of view of the literature data, we think that the findings we obtained may support researches that vitamin D level is significantly associated with both COVID-19 and other infections and many serious autoimmune and malignant diseases. As a result, rehabilitation programs on vitamin D deficiency should be organized and the society should be raised.