COVID-19 severity in relation to sociodemographics and vitamin D use

Abstract

Most COVID-19 cases are treated as outpatients, while the majority of studies on COVID-19 focus on inpatients. Little is known about the self-reporting and self-rating of the disease’s symptoms, and the associations of prophylactic use of dietary supplements with COVID-19 severity have not been addressed. The aims of this study are to evaluate COVID-19 severity and to relate them to sociodemographic characteristics and prophylactic dietary supplements. An observational patient-based study conducted through an online questionnaire on recovered COVID-19 patients. The patients were assessed for several severity parameters, sociodemographic parameters, and prophylactic dietary supplement use. A total of 428 patients were evaluated. Age and presence of comorbidities had positive associations with the severity parameters. The severe infection group had the highest proportion of patients stressed about COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Cigarette, but not hookah, smoking was significantly associated with less severe symptoms. Vitamin D negatively predicted disease severity (P < 0.05). In conclusion, stress, age, and presence of comorbidities were the most important positive predictors of COVID-19 severity, while prophylactic vitamin D use and smoking were significant negative predictors. The use of protective measures and other prophylactic dietary supplements was not significantly associated with symptom severity.

Use of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…From the electronic database search, a total of 62 studies were enrolled in this review ( Figure 1 ) ( 10 , 17 – 77 ). Thirty-nine studies were population-based surveys, and twenty-three studies were hospital-based COVID-19 patient case reviews.…”

“…Twenty-two studies were conducted in China ( 27 , 31 – 34 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 44 , 47 , 55 , 62 – 65 , 67 , 69 – 73 , 75 – 77 ), six in Saudi Arabia ( 18 , 21 – 23 , 25 , 26 ), five in India ( 10 , 41 , 46 , 60 , 61 ), three in the United States ( 35 , 42 , 45 ) and three in Turkey ( 38 , 49 , 66 ), and these were the most frequent countries included in this review. Among the population-based survey studies, thirty-one were conducted through online surveys only ( 17 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 – 31 , 35 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 48 – 54 , 57 – 62 , 66 , 68 , 74 ), one was an in-person interview ( 56 ), three were telephone interviews ( 10 , 21 , 38 ), and two were both in-person and online surveys ( 19 , 36 ). Among the included studies, usage status of the interventions, including TCM ( n = 22) ( 27 , 32 – 34 , 37 , 39 , ...…”

“…Among the population-based survey studies, thirty-one were conducted through online surveys only ( 17 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 – 31 , 35 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 48 – 54 , 57 – 62 , 66 , 68 , 74 ), one was an in-person interview ( 56 ), three were telephone interviews ( 10 , 21 , 38 ), and two were both in-person and online surveys ( 19 , 36 ). Among the included studies, usage status of the interventions, including TCM ( n = 22) ( 27 , 32 – 34 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 44 , 47 , 55 , 63 – 65 , 67 , 69 – 73 , 75 – 77 ), functional food (supplements) or herbs ( n = 20) ( 17 – 24 , 29 , 36 , 38 , 43 , 49 – 52 , 57 – 59 ), mind-body practice or spiritual practice ( n = 9) ( 28 , 35 , 42 , 45 , 48 , 54 , 60 , 61 , 74 ), Ayurveda ( n = 2) ( 10 , 41 ), homeopathy ( n = 1) ( ...…”

“…Most of the data for surveys or patient chart reviews were collected during 2020. In approximately half of the studies, TCIM interventions were used for prophylactic purposes ( n = 28) ( 17 – 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 41 , 42 , 45 , 48 – 54 , 59 , 61 , 62 , 66 , 74 ), and the other half were used for therapeutic purposes ( n = 27) ( 21 , 24 , 27 , 32 – 34 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 55 , 58 , 63 – 65 , 67 , 69 – 73 , 75 – 77 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

Outdoor Activity in the Daytime, but Not the Nighttime, Predicts Better Mental Health Status During the COVID-19 Curfew in the United Arab Emirates

“…Ultraviolet B (UV-B) light from sunlight exposure is the main factor for producing the active form of vitamin D in the body ( 52 ). As more than 80% of the body's requirement of vitamin D is supplied from UV-B sunlight exposure ( 53 , 54 ) the lowered levels of outdoor activities due to COVID-19 lockdowns might hence contribute to a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ( 55 ).…”