1
|
Efird JT, Anderson E, Jindal C, Suzuki A. Interaction of Vitamin D and Corticosteroid Use in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Potential Explanation for Inconsistent Findings in the Literature. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:1695-1702. [PMID: 35440302 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220418132847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D is an important immune-modulator with anti-inflammatory properties. While this prohormone has been studied extensively in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, findings have been inconsistent regarding its overall benefit in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Most studies to date have been observational in nature, not accounting for the use of corticosteroids. Furthermore, the few randomized clinical trials designed to examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 outcomes have been relatively small and thus insufficiently powered to assure a balance of corticosteroid use between study arms. The current perspective addresses the interaction of vitamin D and corticosteroids as a potential explanation for the divergent results reported in the literature. Future research on vitamin D and COVID-19 will benefit by considering this interaction, especially among hospitalized patients requiring oxygen and mechanical ventilation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy T Efird
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham (Duke) VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | | | - Charulata Jindal
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ayako Suzuki
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham (Duke) VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Efird JT, Anderson EJ, Jindal C, Redding TS, Thompson AD, Press AM, Upchurch J, Williams CD, Choi YM, Suzuki A. The Interaction of Vitamin D and Corticosteroids: A Mortality Analysis of 26,508 Veterans Who Tested Positive for SARS-CoV-2. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:447. [PMID: 35010701 PMCID: PMC8744830 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This data-based cohort consisted of 26,508 (7%) United States veterans out of the 399,290 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from 1 March to 10 September 2020. We aimed to assess the interaction of post-index vitamin D (Vit D) and corticosteroid (CRT) use on 30-day mortality among hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Combination Vit D and CRT drug use was assessed according to four multinomial pairs (-|+, -|-, +|+, +|-). Respective categorical effects were computed on a log-binomial scale as adjusted relative risk (aRR). Approximately 6% of veterans who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 died within 30 days of their index date. Among hospitalized patients, a significantly decreased aRR was observed for the use of Vit D in the absence of CRTs relative to patients who received CRTs but not Vit D (aRR = 0.30; multiplicity corrected, p = 0.0004). Among patients receiving systemically administered CRTs (e.g., dexamethasone), the use of Vit D was associated with fewer deaths in hospitalized patients (aRR = 0.51) compared with non-hospitalized patients (aRR = 2.5) (P-for-Interaction = 0.0071). Evaluating the effect of modification of these compounds in the context of hospitalization may aid in the management of COVID-19 and provide a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy T. Efird
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
| | | | - Charulata Jindal
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Thomas S. Redding
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrew D. Thompson
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Ashlyn M. Press
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Julie Upchurch
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Christina D. Williams
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | - Ayako Suzuki
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC 27705, USA; (T.S.R.); (A.D.T.); (A.M.P.); (J.U.); (C.D.W.); (A.S.)
- Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- The Division of Gastroenterology, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| |
Collapse
|