Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently reported in patients with SARS CoV-2 infection. The clinical study was conducted to assess the association of 25 OH-vitamin Dserum concentrations with clinical parameters of lung involvement, in elderly patients admitted to health care facility for SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

Methods: In this study, sixty-five consecutive COVID 19 patients (with the mean age of 76±13 years) and sixty-five gender and age-matched control subjects were included. 

Results: The results showed that significantly lower vitamin D serum levels were seen in COVID 19 patients than in control. Also, a significant positive correlation was seen between vitamin D serum levels and PaO2 (p=0.03), SO2 (p=0.05), PaO2/FiO2 (p=0.02).Significantly reduced vitamin D serum levels were found in the elderly COVID 19 patients who died during hospitalization, compared to those who survived. 

Study inference: The results of the study concluded that 25 OH-vitamin D serum deficiency is related to more severe lung involvement, longer disease duration and risk of death in elderly COVID 19 patients. The identification of low vitamin D levels in younger COVID 19 patients with less comorbidities also suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a crucial risk factor at any age. 

Reference: Sulli A, Gotelli E, Casabella A, Paolino S, et al. Vitamin D and lung outcomes in elderly COVID 19 patients. Nutrients. 2021; 13: 717.