Prevention of vitamin D deficiency in children. The state of the problem in the world and in Ukraine.

The article presents current data on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and criteria for its deficiency in children in different countries. Vitamin D is recognized as one of the most important vitamins involved in many biochemical processes in the body. Its active metabolites play a key role in calcium absorption, bone mineralization and promote phosphate and magnesium metabolism. At the same time, in addition to affecting mineral metabolism, there is a wide range of conditions in which vitamin D also plays a preventive role. Vitamin D has been shown to play a vital role in innate immunity maintenance and is important in prevention of several diseases, including infections, autoimmune diseases, certain forms of cancer, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D is of particular importance for newborns and young children. This vitamin is involved in important physiological regulatory processes such as bone metabolism, lung development, maturation of the immune system and differentiation of the nervous system. Vitamin D deficiency increases risks of neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, respiratory distress syndrome, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium during childhood can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and other diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency in adults. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has shown to be a potential risk factor for COVID-19 propensity. It has been established that to date most scientific pediatric societies have recognized the need to prevent vitamin D deficiency in healthy children of all ages, but data on the dosage of vitamin D in its prophylactic use differ. Most scientific societies recommend an average of 400-600 IU per day of vitamin D for prophylactic purposes. The analysis of published data shows the need to follow a strategy based on an individual approach, taking into account physiological characteristics, individual requirements and lifestyle.Copyright © 2021 University of Tartu Press. All rights reserved.

Effects of training and protein/carbohydrate supplementation by food on strength, body composition and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women

Background: Menopause is associated with impairments of health, e.g. cardiovascular disease, changes in body composition, decrease in bone density. Physical activity and nutrition strategies have been demonstrated to counteract some of these disabilities. Aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of 3 months of strength and endurance training combined with protein/carbohydrate supplementation on strength, body composition and bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Method(s): 62 postmenopausal women were recruited. Measurements: Body composition by BIA. Strength of leg, chest and handgrip. delta44Ca/42Ca in blood and urine as proxies for bone metabolism, samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Participants completed 2/week endurance training (walking) for 60 minutes (60-75% km/h of 4mmol threshold) and a whole-body strength training 1/week for 60 minutes (online). In addition, the intervention group (IG) received 100g of sour milk cheese and 76g of white bread (35.3 g carbohydrate, 36.1 g protein, 3.5 g fat, 321 kcal) after each training. Result(s): Training results in an anabolic effect on bone metabolism, here protein/carbohydrate supplementation does not show additive effects. Training resulted in an increase of leg and hand grip strength. For hand grip strength an additive effect could be demonstrated after protein/carbohydrate supplementation. Both groups increased muscle mass and reduced fat mass, although the results were not significant. Discussion(s): Training was effective, showing an increase in strength. Additive effects of the nutritional intervention could be only observed for hand grip strength. This may be due to a weak compliance of the protein/carbohydrate supplementation by a meal while corona pandemic. Also, because of the endurance parts, the training was not specifically designed to increase strength. Nevertheless, even this mild training has a remarkably strong impact on bone metabolism. Conclusion(s): Even if the effects are faint, the data of this study provide evidence that protein/carbohydrate supplementation, also by food, supports the events of training on strength. Training has a strong impact on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. The subjects respond very individually to training and nutrition interventions. Training consequentially is to be personalized.Copyright © 2023

Risk of failure in dental implant osseointegration among people with the post-covid syndrome

Dental implants are a standard of care in contemporary dental practice and are widely employed for the restoration of missing teeth. The long-term utility of an implant is largely dependent on the successful implant osseointegration and maintenance of the same over time. Bone metabolism and inflammatory mechanism are interrelated phenomena and are usually collectively termed osteoimmunology, which may affect the predictability and success of implant osseointegration. Many biochemical mediators of inflammation, especially Interleukin (IL)1, IL-6, and Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, have been documented to increase the activity of bone-resorbing cells through the Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B (RANK) and Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand (RANKL)systems. Some of the earlier studies with very limited data suggest that SARS-CoV2 infection may also directly affect bone resorption. Thus, it is imperative to understand the pathophysiology of osseointegration in COVID-19 patients, to enhance successful implant osseointegration and prevent peri-implant bone loss in these patients. Here, we present a summary of the connection between inflammatory pathways and bone metabolism on a molecular basis which may assume a significant bearing in situations of exaggerated host immune response as seen in COVID-19 infection.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Identification and experimental validation of key m6A modification regulators as potential biomarkers of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a severe systemic bone metabolic disease that occurs worldwide. During the coronavirus pandemic, prioritization of urgent services and delay of elective care attenuated routine screening and monitoring of OP patients. There is an urgent need for novel and effective screening diagnostic biomarkers that require minimal technical and time investments. Several studies have indicated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators play essential roles in metabolic diseases, including OP. The aim of this study was to identify key m6A regulators as biomarkers of OP through gene expression data analysis and experimental verification. GSE56815 dataset was served as the training dataset for 40 women with high bone mineral density (BMD) and 40 women with low BMD. The expression levels of 14 major m6A regulators were analyzed to screen for differentially expressed m6A regulators in the two groups. The impact of m6A modification on bone metabolism microenvironment characteristics was explored, including osteoblast-related and osteoclast-related gene sets. Most m6A regulators and bone metabolism-related gene sets were dysregulated in the low-BMD samples, and their relationship was also tightly linked. In addition, consensus cluster analysis was performed, and two distinct m6A modification patterns were identified in the low-BMD samples. Subsequently, by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we identified four key m6A regulators, namely, METTL16, CBLL1, FTO, and YTHDF2. We built a diagnostic model based on the four m6A regulators. CBLL1 and YTHDF2 were protective factors, whereas METTL16 and FTO were risk factors, and the ROC curve and test dataset validated that this model had moderate accuracy in distinguishing high- and low-BMD samples. Furthermore, a regulatory network was constructed of the four hub m6A regulators and 26 m6A target bone metabolism-related genes, which enhanced our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification in OP. Finally, the expression of the four key m6A regulators was validated in vivo and in vitro, which is consistent with the bioinformatic analysis results. Our findings identified four key m6A regulators that are essential for bone metabolism and have specific diagnostic value in OP. These modules could be used as biomarkers of OP in the future.

Decreased vitamin D Levels in the pediatric population after COVID-19 lockdown

Background. SarsCov2 infection began to spread worldwide since December 2019 and, on March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized its related disease, named COVID-19, as a pandemic. In Italy, to contain the spread of infection a severe lockdown from March 10th, 2020 to May 4th, 2020 was instituted. Other less severe restrictions were imposed in the winter 2020- 2021 and in the spring 2021. The containment measures caused a series of consequences for the population and, in particular, for children and adolescents that presented several psychophysical problems. Aim(s): This study aims to investigate the serum levels of vitamin D in children and adolescent before, during and after the lockdown consequent to COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, including all children and adolescents between 1 to 18 years referring to the Pediatric Endocrinology Service of the University Hospital of Verona, Italy, between January 2019 and December 2021. All patients affected by clinical conditions that involve vitamin D metabolism or assuming vitamin D supplementation were excluded. Result(s): In total, 490 children (36.7% males and 63.3% females) were enrolled in this study. The vitamin D levels decreased over time: 28.2 +/- 10.2 ng/mL in 2019;28.2 +/- 11.4 ng/mL in 2020 and 24.9 +/- 10.1 ng/mL in 2021 (p<0.05). The vitamin D levels are significant higher in summer and in autumn in comparison with the levels of winter and spring, regardless of the examined years. Conclusion(s): Our data showed that the measures adopted to contain the covid-19 pandemic led to a reduction of serum levels of vitamin D in pediatric population, probably due to the reduced solar exposure. This may have severe consequences on the bone metabolism of those children who did not present optimal vitamin D levels even before the lockdown. Therefore, an adequate supplementation of vitamin D is necessary at least during the winter period in children living in Northern Italy.

Effects of Probiotics and Gut Microbiota on Bone Metabolism in Chickens: A Review.

Broiler leg diseases are a common abnormal bone metabolism issue that leads to poor leg health in growing poultry. Bone metabolism is a complicated regulatory process controlled by genetic, nutritional, feeding management, environmental, or other influencing factors. The gut microbiota constitutes the largest micro-ecosystem in animals and is closely related to many metabolic disorders, including bone disease, by affecting the absorption of nutrients and the barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract and regulating the immune system and even the brain-gut-bone axis. Recently, probiotic-based dietary supplementation has emerged as an emerging strategy to improve bone health in chickens by regulating bone metabolism based on the gut-bone axis. This review aims to summarize the regulatory mechanisms of probiotics in the gut microbiota on bone metabolism and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases in broiler chickens.

Association of Vitamin D with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): A Review

Nutrition is essential for the function of the immune system and this relationship is currently being studied. In particular, vitamin D is a crucial immunonutrient that can also be obtained through the diet. Although the primary function of vitamin D appears to be calcium homeostasis, this vitamin also serves for immunomodulatory functions. The link between vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to infections originated more than a century ago when vitamin D was used for the treatment of tuberculosis. The importance of vitamin D in cases of respiratory infection is supported by the fact that low levels of vitamin D are common in populations and low levels have been associated with a significantly increased risk of pneumonia. Vitamin D supplementation can improve innate immunity as well as adaptive immunity. The rapid global spread of COVID-19 has renewed interest in the possible role of vitamin D in modulating the immune response to respiratory infections. Copyright © 2021, SILAE (Italo-Latin American Society of Ethnomedicine). All rights reserved.

KDQOL Survey Scores in Dialysis Patients Decrease Following the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic With Concurrent Changes in Patient Adherence

The Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) survey is a review of patients’ quality of life (QOL) on hemodialysis. Lower survey scores in depression, burden of disease, and treatment satisfaction are associated with worse compliance to treatment and poorer outcomes. KDQOL surveys were extracted from and stratified by year, with duplicate entries removed. Annual mean scores for each component of the survey were calculated for each clinic. The KDQOL data represents the mean scores for 2017-2019 compared to the first three quarters of 2021. 2020 was excluded due to sampling challenges and high patient turnover creating potentially inaccurate data. Mean scores were compared by Student’s t-test with Bonferroni adjustment for multiplicity. Phosphorus and PTH levels were used as a surrogate for treatment compliance. Patients reported lower QOL scores during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (baseline). All KDQOL metrics were significantly lower in 2021 compared to the mean of three years prior to the pandemic. A two sample Student’s T test was used to determine the change in mean score for each category: Physical Component Score (t(2)= 14.5, p=0.009), Mental Component Score (t(2)= 36.7, p=0.0004), Burden of Kidney Disease (t(2)= 6.1, p=0.01), Symptoms of Kidney Disease (t(2)= 22.8, p=0.0009), Effects of Kidney Disease (t(2)= 8.8, p=0.006). Phosphorus was significantly higher in 2021 compared to the mean of 2018 and 2019 when calculated via t-test (t(31)= -2.72, p=0.01). Parathyroid Hormone quarterly data was evaluated via t-test for 2018 to 2020 vs. the first three quarters of 2021 (t(12)= -7.15, p=0.01) Using the KDQOL survey to measure patients’ QOL, we found that all measures were significantly lower in 2021 following the pandemic. Using markers of bone metabolism as measures of treatment compliance, phosphorus and PTH levels were also significantly higher in 2021. In ESRD patients who survived the trauma of the pandemic, QOL is perceived to be worse and is likely affecting compliance. Social workers and staff need to be aware of these trends to provide the appropriate counselling and resources to meet the needs of these patients.

POS-250 A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF EFFECT OF CHOLECALCIFEROL SUPPLEMENTATION ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INFLAMMATION, AND BONE METABOLISM MARKERS IN CKD: BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS OF FEASIBILITY PHASE

Introduction: Studies have linked lower vitamin D levels with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in general population and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The preliminary evidence of vitamin D supplementation is encouraging but there is a huge void with respect to good quality long term data supporting the use of this promising intervention for translation into better outcomes for CVD in CKD. This study is exploring the effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on cardiovascular disease, markers of inflammation and bone metabolism in CKD. We present the baseline characteristics of feasibility phase of the trial. Methods: The study is a multicentric, prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double blind trial in two parallel groups and feasibility phase is being done at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. The trial is registered at Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2019/05/019211). After a run-in period of 2 weeks, the enrolled subjects are randomized in 1:1 to receive either 60,000 IU/2 weeks of cholecalciferol or matching placebo. The subjects will be then followed up every three month till 3 years. The primary outcome of the study is a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Secondary outcome measures include all-cause mortality, need of RRT, change in hsCRP, IL-6, iPTH, FGF-23, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, and CTX-1. Results: A total of 720 subjects have been screened till date. Out of 119 enrolled, 86 subjects have been randomized over 24 months period. 76% subjects have completed annual follow up at 12 months, 66% subjects - 15thmonths follow up, 40%- 18 months follow up, 26% subjects - 21 months follow up, 6% subjects – 24 months follow up. Baseline characteristics and serum biomarkers levels has been analysed in 80 subjects. Mean age of the subjects were 51.3 ± 12.2 years and 58.8 % were males. Serum haemoglobin levels were 11.6 ±1.7 g/dl. Mean eGFR was 26.3 (17.4, 35.1) ml/min/1.73m2. Outcome events were;MACE: 1 (due to CVD), death other than due to MACE: 1 (due to COVID 19), subjects with composite of all-cause death and non-fatal MACE: 2, subject with need of RRT:1 and subjects with composite of 50% decline in GFR or need of RRT: 3. 2 serious adverse events unrelated to study drug were reported during the course of study. Table: Baseline levels of various serum biomarkers [Formula presented] Conclusions: Despite COVID 19 related restrictions being in place for most of the last 18 months, the study has been able to screen and enrol participants. The follow ups have been ensured either through physical or remote (mobile/telephonic) means. Once in the multi-centric phase, the study will be able to test a relatively inexpensive intervention in the form of vitamin D supplementation for CVD in CKD. No conflict of interest

POS-252 THE DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF TWO NOVEL INTRAVENOUS IRON AGENTS ON FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 23, PHOSPHATE AND OTHER CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL MARKERS: METHODOLOGY AND BASELINE DATA

Introduction: Third generation intravenous (IV) iron preparations are increasingly used in the treatment of non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated iron deficiency. Such compounds allow rapid delivery of large concentrations of iron safely at a single sitting. Evidence suggests that their use may lead to improved cardiovascular outcomes. Nonetheless, concerns exist regarding the potential induction of hypophosphatemia via fibroblast-growth-factor 23 (FGF-23) following the use of certain compounds. Raised FGF-23 has been associated with mineral bone and cardiac disorders, alongside prognostic implications. No prior study has provided a head-to-head comparison between iron preparations in CKD. This pilot study is designed to primarily investigate the differential impact of two different IV iron compounds on FGF-23 and phosphate in patients with CKD;secondarily we examine the impact of these compounds on bone markers and functional status, quality of life and cardiovascular function. Methods: This is a randomized controlled double-blinded pilot study recruiting patients with CKD stage 3a – 5 (non-dialysis) and iron deficiency +/- anemia. Patients are randomized to receive either ferric carboxymaltose or ferric derisomaltose over two infusions (one-month apart) to achieve full repletion. The initial dose administered is 1000 mg for both medications, with 500 mg or 1000 mg reserved for the second dose depending on weight and hematinics. Follow up is over a period of three months following the first infusion with measurements of intact FGF-23, phosphate, phosphaturia, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, bone metabolism markers, functional status and quality of life and cardiac markers (figure 1). [Formula presented] Results: 168 patients were referred to the specialist renal anemia services for pre-screening. Ninety-nine were contacted for interest to participate, with 64 individuals declining to join. The commonest reason for not participating, was the COVID-19 pandemic (43.3%) with patients not keen to travel. Thirty-five patients were screened, and 27 patients enrolled in the study, of which 26 were randomized to receive iron (figure 2). One patient withdrew from the study, as they were unable to attend appointments following successful screening. In our baseline cohort the median age was 67.9 (12.4) and 17 participants were male. Mean hemoglobin was 100.3 (13.5) and hematinic markers consistent were consistent with iron deficiency. Median eGFR was 18.0 (11.3) ml/min/1.73 m2;the population as expected had a raised intact FGF-23 (212.1 (116.4) pg/ml). Serum calcium and phosphate were within normal parameters, while parathyroid hormone and 1,25 (OH)2 Vitamin D were deranged (Table 1). [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Conclusions: ExplorIRON-CKD, like a number of trials, experienced significant disruption in recruitment due to COVID-19. This study will provide further insight to the potential induction of FGF-23 following administration of specific intravenous iron compounds, and identify whether such a differential effect exists in patients with CKD. The effect of such induction in terms of phosphate and other markers of bone metabolism, functional status and cardiac functioning will be observed. The results will aid in hypothesis generation for further studies to identify the potential long-term impact of iatrogenic FGF-23 increase in patients with CKD. Conflict of interest Potential conflict of interest: This study received funding support from Pharmacosmos A/S and the Kidney Research Yorkshire Charity Fund. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, and decision to publish or preparation of the . I have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Effects of VDR polymorphisms on the COVID-19 Symptoms

Vitamin D [25 (OH)D] plays a role in many of biological processes, such as bone metabolism, immunomodulation, cell proliferation, differentiation, and regulation. Also, it has anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antioxidant effects. Due to the immunomodulatory effects of 25 (OH)D, its deficiency is blamed for a higher risk for COVID-19 infection. Serum concentrations of 25 (OH)D were inversely associated with proinflammatory cytokines such as increased IL-6, CRP levels, and increased risk of pneumonia or ARDS. Lower 25 (OH)D concentrations are associated with a higher risk for infections, especially from the respiratory tract [1]. Chronic vitamin D deficiency can induce the renin-angiotensin system activation and leads to fibrotic changes that can cause lung injury by inducing proinflammatory cytokine production in human monocytes/macrophages (2). Increased frequency of COVID-19 infection at high latitudes and worse prognosis of these cases made clinicians to think that 25 (OH)D levels may affect the risk and prognosis of COVID-19 infection [3]. In previous reports, in the early pandemic, a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be related to high rates of COVID-19 infection, higher risk of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and mortality [6]. Whilst, it is reported that 25 (OH)D may not protect against COVID-19 infection in recent studies. Moreover, it was not associated with disease severity or lethality [4-6]. The active form of vitamin D binds to its receptor (VDR) and modulates its responses. VDR is located on chromosome 12q13, consisting of 9 exons. Vitamin D-VDR signaling regulates the expression of a wide range of physiological functions. Herein, VDR polymorphisms cause a dysfunctional receptor that affects VDR activity. Both innate and adaptive immune responses can vary according to different polymorphisms of VDR. Also VDR polymorphisms have been previously found to be associated with bacterial infections such as tuberculosis [7] and severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in respect to vitamin D deficiency [8]. Moreover, it was demonstrated that different VDR polymorphisms such as FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI could change the course of RSV infection in several studies, respectively [8-10]. This study aimed to evaluate if there is any association between the VDR gene polymorphism at FokI, TaqI, BsmI, and ApaI alleles and the prognosis of COVID-19 in respect to vitamin D deficiency. Two-hundred ninety-seven (n=297) patients with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to Marmara University Education and Research Hospital between April and October 2020 were enrolled. The severity of COVID-19 patients was classified into 1-10 according to WHO criteria. The patients' requirement for noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) or reservoir mask, their requirement for admission to intensive care unit (ICU), mortality, and WHO clinical progression scales were reviewed. Four variant regions of vitamin D receptor (VDR);FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were determined using the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technique. To conclude;The effect of VDR polymorphisms on the receptor function causes intensive care unit treatment, disease severity and mortality differences among patients with covid-19 infection in the clinical set-up. VDR Ff genotype was related with disease severity, TT with disease severity and aa with mortality respectively. As a result we have detected that 25 (OH)D levels were not related to COVID-19 infection severity and mortality. Additionally, it indicated that VDR polymorphisms are independently associated with the severity of COVID-19 and the survival of patients. More extensive studies are needed to determine the impact of polymorphisms on COVID-19 and explain the underlying cause.

Vertebral fractures and mortality risk in hospitalised patients during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bone fragility has been linked to COVID-19 severity. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a diagnosis of vertebral fracture (VF) increased mortality risk in COVID-19 patients and whether this effect was greater than in those without COVID-19. METHODS: We assessed VFs by computed tomography (CT) in a cohort of 501 patients consecutively admitted to the emergency department (ED) for clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of pandemic emergency. Of those, 239 had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. RESULTS: VF prevalence was similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups (22.2 vs. 19%; p = 0.458). Death rates were similar between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups at both 30 (15.8 vs. 12.2%; p = 0.234) and 120 days (21.8 vs. 17.6%; p = 0.236). The mortality risk was higher in COVID-19 patients either with one or multiple fractures compared to those without VFs, at 30 and 120 days, but statistical significance was reached only in those with multiple VFs (30-day HR 3.03, 95% CI 1.36-6.75; 120-day HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.43-5.91). In the non-COVID-19 group, the 30-day mortality risk was significantly higher in patients either with one (HR 7.46, 95% CI 3.12-17.8) or multiple fractures (HR 6.2, 95% CI 2.75-13.98) compared to those without VFs. A similar effect was observed at 120 days. After adjustment for age, sex and bone density, mortality risk remained associated with VFs in the non-COVID-19 group only. CONCLUSIONS: VFs were not independently associated with short-term mortality in patients with COVID-19, but they strongly increased mortality risk in those without COVID-19.

Radiological Thoracic Vertebral Fractures are Highly Prevalent in COVID-19 and Predict Disease Outcomes.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 has become the most relevant medical issue globally. Despite several studies that have investigated clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients, no data have been reported on the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFs). Since VFs may influence cardiorespiratory function and disease outcomes, the aim of this study was to assess VFs prevalence and clinical impact in COVID-19. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This was a retrospective cohort study performed at San Raffaele Hospital, a tertiary health care hospital in Italy. We included COVID-19 patients for whom lateral chest x-rays at emergency department were available. VFs were detected using a semiquantitative evaluation of vertebral shape on chest x-rays. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included in this study and thoracic VFs were detected in 41 patients (36%). Patients with VFs were older and more frequently affected by hypertension and coronary artery disease (P < 0.001, P = 0.007, P = 0.034; respectively). Thirty-six (88%) patients in VFs+ group compared to 54 (74%) in VFs- group were hospitalized (P = 0.08). Patients with VFs more frequently required noninvasive mechanical ventilation compared with those without VFs (P = 0.02). Mortality was 22% in VFs+ group and 10% in VFs- group (P = 0.07). In particular, mortality was higher in patients with severe VFs compared with those with moderate and mild VFs (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: VFs may integrate the cardiorespiratory risk of COVID-19 patients, being a useful and easy to measure clinical marker of fragility and poor prognosis. We suggest that morphometric thoracic vertebral evaluation should be performed in all suspected COVID-19 patients undergoing chest x-rays.