ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 is a widespread viral disease that has severely affected our world. Although beneficial effects of vitamin D on immune system are well known, there are ongoing discussions about its role in patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we examined the relationship between risk of COVID-19 infection and plasma vitamin D level. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 133 participants in Kerman city, Iran. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by positive RT-Real time PCR test in 69 cases and another 64 participants were considered as-non-infected-control group. Plasma vitamin D levels were measured among all, and compared. Results: Sub-normal plasma vitamin D level were reported in about 51% of participants;however, there was no significant difference in the mean plasma vitamin D levels between COVID-19 and control groups. Mean plasma levels of vitamin D were significantly higher in females than males (P-value: 0.017). Conclusion: According to our results, risk of COVID-19 infection does not correlate with plasma level of vitamin D.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and can lead to acute respiratory distress. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between COVID-19 severity and serum apelin17 and inflammatory mediator levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the RT-PCR test. The patients' data were extracted from their records. Venous blood samples were obtained from the patients to investigate the serum levels of apelin-17 and inflammatory mediators. Results: Eighty-six COVID-19 patients were studied. The mean age of the participants was 55.56±14.88, and 43 (50 %) were male. Clinical symptoms were dyspnea 77.6 %, fever 52.3 %, cough 48.8 %, gastrointestinal symptoms 15.1 %, and chest pain 7 %. The overall mortality rate was 7 %. No significant relationship was found between serum apelin-17 levels and COVID-19 severity (P= 0.48). However, there was a significant and direct relationship between COVID-19 severity and serum levels of CRP (P= 0.038) and D-dimer (P= 0.029). Conclusion: Serum apelin-17 levels were higher in recovered patients than those who died (4.90 vs. 3.19). Moreover, serum apelin-17 levels were higher in the patients admitted to the general ward than those admitted to the ICU (5.15 vs. 3.98). The difference was not statistically significant. However, there was a significant and direct relationship between serum apelin-17 levels and lymphocyte count (P= 0.022). Moreover, there was a significant and inverse relationship between lymphocyte count and COVID-19 severity (P= 0.004). Therefore, it can be interpreted that COVID-19 severity may decrease with an increase in serum apelin-17 levels. Therefore, to prove this hypothesis, a study with larger sample size is recommended.