Serum Calcium and Vitamin D levels: Correlation with severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients in Royal Hospital, Oman. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Osman, Wessam; Al Fahdi, Fatma; Al Salmi, Issa; Al Khalili, Huda; Gokhale, Antara; Khamis, Faryal
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 107(2021)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 163
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Oman -- Hypocalcemia -- Vitamin D -- Prognosis -- Disease marker; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Hypocalcemia has been observed at admission in the majority of COVID-19 patients. Infection severity has been observed to correlate to magnitude of hypocalcemia. Binding of calcium to high levels of unsaturated fatty acids may cause hypocalcemia. Vitamin D levels unlikely affect progression and severity of COVID-19 infections. There is no correlation of Vitamin D levels to severity or progression of disease. Abstract: Introduction: Studies have revealed hypocalcemia and low vitamin D levels in severe covid-19 that warrant further research. Objective: Our study investigates the correlation between calcium levels at presentation as a primary endpoint and pre-existing calcium levels as a secondary endpoint to the severity of disease presentation and progression. Method: Observational cohort study in adults admitted with COVID-19 from March utill September 2020. Multiple clinical scales and laboratory parameters were used to correlate corrected calcium and vitamin D associations with risk factors and outcomes. Results: Four hundred and forty five patients were included in the study. Hypocalcemic patients had more abnormal laboratory parameters and longer hospitalization duration. Hypocalcemia was in 60–75% of all age groups (p-value 0.053), for which 77.97% were ICU admissions (p-value 0.001) and 67.02% were diabetic (p-value 0.347). There were non-significant correlations between Vitamin D and almost all the parameters except for chronic respiratory diseases, which had a P-value of 0.024. Conclusion: It can be concluded that hypocalcemia is a significant and reliable marker of disease severity and progression regardless of underlying comorbidities. Vitamin D levels fail to reflect correlation with severity of COVID-19 infections.