Vitamin D deficiency associated with higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, continues to spread worldwide.
In an enormous research effort, the global scientific community continues to try and identify the causes of a wide variation in disease manifestations and severity.
A new study published in the journal
Endocrinein January 2021 shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization.
Risk factors for severe COVID-19
Of the 97 million confirmed cases across the globe, over 2 million people have died. The unusual nature of this virus is that it causes severe or even critical illness in a significant minority of patients, while the vast majority escape with no, mild or moderate symptoms.