Vitamin D status in patients with COVID-19 – sex differences associated with severity of the disease

Opis

Background: Patients with COVID-19 can develop abnormal inflammatory response, which can progress to multiorgan failure and death, with a higher prevalence observed in men. Besides, recent research suggests a complex interaction between viral infections and vitamin D. Aims: This study evaluates sex differences of vitamin D status, circulating enzymes and biomarkers of inflammatory response at the time of diagnosis of COVID-19, depending on severity of disease the patients develop. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted from September to December 2020. Patients (n = 115) were divided in two groups: Group A- asymptomatic or mild cases (36 men and 19 women; mean age 53.3 ± 1.4 y.) and Group B- patients who develop moderate or severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization (38 men and 22 women; mean age 56.1 ± 1.3 y.). Results: Patients of Group B had almost two-fold lower circulating 25(OH)D concentrations than patients of Group A (Group A: 61.6 ± 1.9 nmol/L; Group B: 32.2 ± 1.4 nmol/L; p < 0.001). Within Group A, the only parameter with a statistically significant sex difference was ferritin (p < 0.01). Within Group B, in addition to ferritin (p < 0.05), we observed a pronounced and statistically highly significant sex difference in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (men: 35.8 ± 1.7 nmol/L; women: 26.0 ± 1.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that inadequate vitamin D status is associated with the development of moderate or severe COVID-19