Evaluation of serum vitamin D levels in COVID-19 positive critically ill adults

Background: Contradictory evidence exists regarding the association between serum vitamin D levels and the severity and out-comes in coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients. We undertook the present study to evaluate the serum vitamin D levels with the other laboratory biomarkers, and the outcomes in our critically ill patients. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out in 58 critically ill adults. Details on their demographics, laboratory pa-rameters such as 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, interleukin-6, serum ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase (CK), D-dimer, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were retrieved. Serum 25(OH)D levels were categorized as follows: >= 50 nmol/L - normal;30-49 - insufficient;and = 80 nmol/L. Median (range) 25(OH)D levels were not significantly different between those who died compared to those alive [41 (20-162) vs. 41 (17-86) nmol/L;p = 0.8]. Significantly higher D-di -mer levels were observed amongst those with <80 nmol/L serum 25(OH)D levels. No significant differences were observed between 25(OH)D and other laboratory biomarkers except for elevated CK in patients with insufficient 25(OH)D levels. Conclusion: We did not observe any significant differences in the serum 25(OH)D levels amongst our critically ill adults who died and who were alive at the time of their admission.