In a new analysis of data from the UK Biobank, vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization but showed only a weak association with infection risk.
Monroy-Iglesias et al. performed a nested case-control study within the UK biobank cohort, among all individuals with at least one serum vitamin D level measurement at baseline (2006-2010) and a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results recorded, and individuals with previous cancer diagnosis.
The global impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services has been significant, fuelling extensive research interest in exploring potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease.
At the start of the pandemic, several studies were conducted looking at risk factors influencing COVID-19 infection rates, severity, and mortality.
These studies consistently identified age, male sex, smoking status, obesity, belonging to certain ethnic groups, and a compromised immune system, among others, as factors contributing to an increased likelihood of developing severe disease and increased mortality rates.
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in modulating both the innate and adaptative immune response.
Deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infections and is recognised as a risk factor for the development of exaggerated and persistent inflammation, which acts as a precursor to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Consequently, since the outset of the pandemic, several studies have investigated the relationship between vitamin D and risk of COVID-19.
There is growing evidence of the association between vitamin D deficiency and risk of COVID-19 infection and severity
We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and both COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation using data from the prospective UK Biobank, said Dr. Maria Monroy-Iglesias of Kings College London and her colleagues.
Additionally, we examined these associations across the general population, a subgroup of cancer patients, and considered potential variations by ethnicity.
The authors assessed more than 150,000 participants in the UK Biobank, undertaking analyses to determine whether the risk of COVID-19 was higher among people with vitamin D deficiency (
