Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill patients, and its role in COVID-19 patients could be important. Its deficiency has been associated with respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis (through activation of the renin-angiotensin system), increased levels of IL-2, and cardiovascular adverse events. Various scientific societies recommend the screening of vitamin D in individuals at risk for deficiency. Despite that, the demographics of Vitamin D levels amongst critically ill patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 are currently unknown. We propose a study to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a consecutive population of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units and to evaluate its relationship with clinical outcomes. We study 226 COVID-19 patients between March 16 and April 26, 2020. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency could not be determined because the value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was obtained in a few patients (17 patients, 7,5%). However, all patients with serum determinations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D presented a level lower than 20 ng/ml and thirteen patients (76,5%) levels < 12,5 ng/ml. We conclude that undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill COVID-19 patients, and physicians should be conscious of the relevance of its monitoring and supplementation.
Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Regulation of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Humans
