Previous vitamin D status and total cholesterol are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Gomes Ribeiro, Heriks; Costa Silva Dantas-Komatsu, Raquel; Franco Pires Medeiros, Jeane; Clara da Cruz Carvalho, Maria; de Lima Soares, Victor; Zavarize Reis, Bruna; Ducati Luchessi, André; Nogueira Silbiger, Vivian

BACKGROUND: The relationship of vitamin D status and other biochemical parameters with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains inconclusive, especially in regions with high solar incidence. Therefore, we aimed to associate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and lipid profile prior to the SARS-CoV-2 tests in a population from a sunny region in Brazil (5° S, 35° W). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 1634 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 of a private medical laboratory with 25(OH)D concentration and lipid profile measured ≥7 days before the date of the first SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test and were categorized according to 25(OH)D sufficiency (≥ 30 ng/ml) or insufficiency (< 30 ng/ml). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess risk factors associated with positive tests for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Average serum 25(OH)D was 33.6 ng/ml. The vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) reached only 2.6% of the participants. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients > 49 y with insufficient 25(OH)D (< 30 ng/ml) presented increased odds to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (OR: 2.02, 95%CI: 1.15 to 3.55, P = 0.015). The same is observed among those with total cholesterol > 190 mg/dl (OR: 1.90, 95%CI: 1.10 to 3.28, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Previous insufficient 25(OH)D (< 30 ng/ml) concentration and high total cholesterol were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults >48 y in the study population. Further studies should be conducted to confirm whether measurement of 25(OH)D and lipid profile could be useful to identify patients who are more susceptible to COVID-19.