A critical update on the role of mild and serious vitamin D deficiency prevalence and the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe

Bakaloudi, Dimitra Rafailia; Chourdakis, Michail

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a pandemic, affecting nearly 180 million people worldwide as of June 22(nd), 2021. In previous studies, the association between the mean Vitamin D (Vit D) concentration of each country and COVID-19 infection and mortality rate in European countries was examined. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate the relationship between Vit D mild and severe deficiency prevalence in each country and COVID-19 infection, recovery, and mortality using updated data and a different methodological approach. Research Methods & Procedures: Information on Vit D concentration/deficiency for each country was retrieved through literature search. As of June 22(nd), 2021, COVID-19 infections and mortalities per one million population as well as total recoveries were obtained. The association between Vit D deficiency and COVID-19 infection, recovery, and mortality were explored using correlation coefficients and scatterplots. Results: Non-significant correlations were observed between the number of COVID-19 infections (r=0.363; p=0.116), and recoveries (r=0.388, p=0.091) with the prevalence of mild Vit D deficiency (<50 nmol/L). Similarly, non-significant correlations were observed between COVID-19 infections (r=0.215, p=0.392) and recoveries (r=0.242, p=0.332) with the prevalence of severe Vit deficiency (<30 nmol/L). Significant correlations were found between COVID-19 mortality and prevalence of both mild Vit D deficiency (<50 nmol/L), (r=0.634, p=0.003) and severe Vit D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) (r=0.538, p=0.021 and COVID-19 mortality rates. Conclusions: Prevalence of both mild and severe Vit D deficiency was not associated with the number of infections of COVID-19 among European countries. Thus, it is an important parameter to be considered when implementing preventive measures to face COVID-19.