THE EVALUATION OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AS A RISK FACTOR IN THE CASE OF PATIENTS WITH MODERATE COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The paper aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin D in patients with moderate COVID-19. A total number of 128 patients, divided into two groups based on their clinical outcome, were evaluated. The group of patients with a positive outcome consisted of 82 patients (POG), while the group with a negative outcome consisted of 46 patients (NOG). We determined at two different moments (on the patients??? admission and their discharge) the plasma level of vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D) along with the levels of inflammatory markers in COVID-19 as C reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, fibrinogen, the total leukocyte count and total cholesterol. The level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was significantly lower in the NOG group when compared to the POG group, while levels of LDH and CRP in the NOG group were significantly higher than those found in the POG group. The levels of CRP and fibrinogen decreased in the POG group during hospitalization. The levels of CRP, as well as the total leukocyte count were inversely correlated with the levels of 25hydroxy vitamin D. This study brings new information on the interaction between vitamin D and pro-inflammatory markers and highlights the role of this vitamin in the modulation of the immune response in patients with moderate COVID-19.