Correlation of Vitamin D deficiency with chest X-rays severity scores and different inflammatory markers in severe and critical COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To determine the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency with Chest X-Rays severity score and Different Inflammatory Markers in Severe and Critical COVID-19 Patients. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted in COVID-19 isolation units at Mardan Medical Complex Teaching Hospital (MMCTH) and Bacha Khan Medical College, Pakistan. Participants: 206 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR were included in the final analysis. Data Collection/Intervention: We collected demographic, comorbidity, laboratory, and clinical outcome data from the electronic records of admitted, deceased, or discharged patients. Main outcome measure: Frequency of symptoms, comorbidities, mortality and morbidity, chest x-ray severity scores, different inflammatory markers in Vitamin D deficient Covid-19 patients. Results: 128(62.14%) were severe and 78(37.5%) were critical COVID-19 patients. The whole cohort had 82(39.80%) males and 124(60.20%) females, with a median age of 55 IQR (50-73). Study participants' median Vitamin D level was 14.01ng/ml, with a minimum of 7.5ng/ml and a maximum of 70.8ng/ml. 67/206 patients died, with a fatality ratio of 32.5%. 54/67(80.59%) suffered from one or more comorbid conditions. Conclusion: Low Vitamin D levels were linked to a higher risk of death, higher x-ray severity scores, and different inflammatory markers. Vitamin D levels greater than 30ng/ml for older patients and greater than 40ng/ml in older patients with comorbidities were associated with reduced severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Funding: None declared.