SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates associated with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels

Summary

Until treatment and vaccine for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) becomes widely available, other methods of reducing infection rates should be explored. This study used a retrospective, observational analysis of deidentified tests performed at a national clinical laboratory to determine if circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity rates. Over 190,000 patients from all 50 states with SARS-CoV-2 results performed mid-March through mid-June, 2020 and matching 25(OH)D results from the preceding 12 months were included. Residential zip code data was required to match with US Census data and perform analyses of race/ethnicity proportions and latitude. A total of 191,779 patients were included (median age, 54 years [interquartile range 40.4–64.7]; 68% female. The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 9.3% (95% C.I. 9.2–9.5%) and the mean seasonally adjusted 25(OH)D was 31.7 (SD 11.7). The SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was higher in the 39,190 patients with “deficient” 25(OH)D values (<20 ng/mL) (12.5%, 95% C.I. 12.2–12.8%) than in the 27,870 patients with “adequate” values (30–34 ng/mL) (8.1%, 95% C.I. 7.8–8.4%) and the 12,321 patients with values ≥55 ng/mL (5.9%, 95% C.I. 5.5–6.4%). The association between 25(OH)D levels and SARS-CoV-2 positivity was best fitted by the weighted second-order polynomial regression, which indicated strong correlation in the total population (R2 = 0.96) and in analyses stratified by all studied demographic factors. The association between lower SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates and higher circulating 25(OH)D levels remained significant in a multivariable logistic model adjusting for all included demographic factors (adjusted odds ratio 0.984 per ng/mL increment, 95% C.I. 0.983–0.986; p<0.001). SARS-CoV-2 positivity is strongly and inversely associated with circulating 25(OH)D levels, a relationship that persists across latitudes, races/ethnicities, both sexes, and age ranges. Our findings provide impetus to explore the role of vitamin D supplementation in reducing the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease.

Related articles

• History and Development of Medical Technology in the Philippines

  This document provides a comprehensive overview of the history and evolution of medical technology in the Philippines, particularly during the Spanish and American occupations. It details the establishment of hospitals, key figures in medical advancements, and the development of public health initiatives.

• Functions of Management in Medical Laboratory Settings

  This document outlines the functions of management within a medical laboratory context, detailing key management principles such as planning, organizing, directing, and controlling, along with their applications in laboratory operations.

• Inflammation and Repair

  This chapter provides an overview of inflammation, defining its features and discussing the sequential steps involved, including recognition of harmful agents, recruitment of immune cells, and the process of tissue repair. It examines both acute and chronic inflammation, including their causes, mediators, and clinical implications.

• Overview of Radiographic Imaging Techniques

  This document presents personal notes detailing the principles and techniques of radiographic imaging, including the operation of X-ray equipment, technical competencies of radiographers, and the anatomy of the X-ray tube. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of radiography as both an art and science.

• IMAGE PRODUCTION & FILM PROCESSING

  This document provides comprehensive guidelines for the dark room processes involved in radiography, including the environmental controls, required equipment, and procedures for efficient film processing.