Decreased level of vitamin D in Post- COVID-19 patients compared to a control group

Before the COVID-19 pandemic started Vitamin D was discussed as a preventative strategy in acute respiratory tract infections. There is a growing evidence of beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 patients. The term post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) describes new, returning or ongoing symptoms more than 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection which cannot be explained by any other disorders or illnesses. The most common symptoms of PCS includes fatigue, difficulty breathing, memory/concentration/sleep problems persistent cough, muscle aches, depression, and others. We conducted a retrospective analysis of vitamin D level in a PCS cohort without hospitalisation. Taking of blood samples was part of the routine assessment in PCS consultation hours. We found significant lower vitamin D levels in the PCS cohort compared to a non-COVID control group. Within the non-COVID cohort there were no differences regarding vitamin D levels. Our results recorded for the first-time decreased vitamin D values in a PCS cohort compared to a control group. There are several potential reasons for these observations. The decrease could be the consequence of overcoming the infection by consumption of vitamin D. The reduction could also be the consequence of a longer duration of illness without exposure to sunlight or malnutrition. Similarly, reduced outdoor exercise during the pandemic with its restriction could have influenced vitamin D levels. Finally, reduced physical activity because of ongoing PCS symptoms like fatigue or exercise intolerance might be a possible explanation for the drop in vitamin D levels.

COVID-19: In- or Outpatient Care? - Risk Score to Differentiate Expected Mild and Severe Cases

The number of people in Germany infected with SARS-CoV-2 was increasing for a long time while capacities for inpatient treatment continued to decrease. In order to secure patient safety yet avoiding an excessive expend of limited resources, early differentiation between expected mild and severe courses of COVID-19 is needed. We established a literature-based COVID-19 risk score to identify COVID-19 cases requiring inpatient treatment and conducted a retrospective cohort study with 155 patients to validate our approach. Due to the high predictive value and discriminatory power, the presented COVID-19 risk score can be a valuable tool to support clinicians in their decision-making. © 2021 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.