Vitamin D Serum Levels and Its Association With COVID 19 Infection In Babylon Governorate, Iraq.

Abstract

Background:

Considering the role of the data that indicate the importance of Vitamin D adequacy in protecting human being againstdifferent pathogens in patients exposed to infectious agents, the role of this Vitamin in Covid-19 patients is a matter of debate.

Objectives: to identify the association between vitamin D level and infection with SARS-COV-2 of adult patients attending or admitted to Merjan Teaching Hospital , Babylon , Iraq

.Methodology: this was a cross sectional comparison study of 240 participants, the total sample mean ±SD age was 46.9±15.4 years, 120confirmed diagnosed cases and admitted to coronavirus unit and 120 negative cases (comparison group). The study carried out from January to June 2021 in Merjan Teaching Hospital, Babylon, Iraq. A pretested questionnaire used to interview patients after obtaining their verbal consents. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D measured to both groups of participants using immunoassay method (maglumi instrument) and body mass index (BMI) measured. The questionnaire included demographicinformation, clinical symptoms, unhealthy habits, and underlying health conditions, (comorbidities related to each participant elicited and recorded).

Results: This study showed that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency were positively and significantly associated with  SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19-cnfirmed  patients had  significantly lower serum  vitamin D levels than comparison group (p = 0.01). In addition, the results revealed that the COVID-19 cases with Vitamin D inadequacy  were significantly associated with  low educational level, low socioeconomic status, and much lowest among female patients  (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Vitamin D inadequacy was significantly associated with COVID 19 infection.