ABSTRACT
BackgroundCOVID-19 is a major worldwide health problem because of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and mortality. Several lines of evidence have suggested a relationship between the vitamin D endocrine system and severity of COVID-19. MethodsWe present a retrospective survival study that includes all Andalusian patients hospitalized between January and November 2020 because of COVID-19 infection. Based on a central registry of electronic health records (the Andalusian Population Health Database, BPS), prescription of vitamin D or its metabolites within 15-30 days before hospitalization were recorded. The effect of treatment with vitamin D metabolites for other indication previous to the hospitalization was studied with respect to patient survival by means of Kaplan-Meyer survival curves and Log Hazard Ratios, using a propensity score to compensate the disbalance of compared classes and the confounding factors. The availability of detailed patient data in the BPS allowed to obtain Real-World Evidence (RWE) of the effects of prior use of vitamin D or its metabolites on the mortality due to COVID-19 infection. FindingsA retrospective cohort of 16.401patients was extracted from the BPS, which includes all the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis between January and November 2020 in Andalusia, one of the largest regions in Europe with the size of an average median country. A total of 358 patients were found with cholecalciferol, and 193 with calcifediol, prescriptions 15 days before hospitalization. For a period extended to 30 days before hospitalization, the numbers increase to 416 and 210 and, respectively. Kaplan-Meyer survival curves and hazard ratios support an association between consumption of these metabolites and patient survival. Such association was stronger in calcifediol (Log Hazard Ratio, LHR = -1.27{+/-}0.32) than in cholecalciferol (LHR= -0.56{+/-}0.15), when prescribed 15 days before hospitalization This effect decreases when a larger 30 days period is considered (calcifediol LHR= -1.01{+/-}0.27 and cholecalciferol LHR= -0.27{+/-}0.12), suggesting that the closer was the treatment to the hospitalization the stronger the association. ConclusionsA significant reduction in mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is associated with the prescription of vitamin D, especially calcifediol, within 15-30 days prior to hospitalization.
ABSTRACT
A case of a brown tumor due to iatrogenic malabsorption following biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is presented. A 52 year old women with a history of BPD 2 years before was referred to orthopedic surgery because of a painful lytic lesion of the left ankle. A bone biopsy revealed a giant cell tumor compatible with the diagnosis of a brown tumor. Subsequent metabolic evaluation showed severe 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism (PTH 60 ng/L or twice the upper normal limit). Bone mineral density was decreased at the femoral neck (0.50 g/cm(2) ; T score of -3.92 or 66% of the expected value) and lumbar spine (T score of -1.75 or 93% of the expected value). A brown tumor can be the presenting symptom of iatrogenic malabsorption due to BPD. This case illustrates the severity of potential bone complications after BPD and the necessity of lifelong surveillance and vitamin supplements after BPD.
