Vitamin D Levels of COVID-19 Positive Sypmtomatic Pediatric Cases

Introduction:Vitamin D is known as a vitamin but also it acts as a prohormone and has many functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the vitamin D levels in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed in a tertiary education and research hospital in Istanbul, Turkey during the period of Marcht o April 2020. Children diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory findings were recorded from patient charts retrospectively. All patients investigated for vitamin D levels. Control group consists of healthy children admitted to pediatric outpatient units for routine check-up in the same season. Thirty children with COVID-19 and 82 healthy children included in this study were compared due to 25-OH vitamin D levels. Results: The median age of COVID-19 positive patients was 11.8 (1.8-17.6) years and the median age of control group was 12.7 (1-16.4) years old. There were 15 (50%) females and 15 (50%) males in infected group and there were 39 (47.5%) females and 43 (52.5%) males control group. Age and gender did not differ among the groups. Median vitamin D level in COVID-19 positive group was 8.9 ng/ml (3-42 ng/ml) and 18.5 ng/ml (9-40.7 ng/ml) in control group. We detected significantly lower vitamin D values in COVID19(+) group when compared with control group (p<0.001). CT was performed 19 patients in COVID-19 positive group and viral pneumonia was detected in 12(63%) of 19. pneumonia (+) group a 17.4-years-old female patient and a 13.1-years-old male patient had low phosphorus levels by age (2.2 and 2.4 mg/dl). Both of them needed high flow oxygen therapy. None of the other cases needed oxygen therapy. Conclusions: This is the first study to date has measured vitamin D levels in children with COVID-19 in Turkey. We detected significantly lower vitamin D values in COVID-19(+) hospitalized children.