Pathologies associated with vitamin d deficiency in geriatric patients post-Covid-19

Abstract

Introduction. Cases of COVID-19 in older adults have revealed an association between a respiratory infection and vitamin D deficiency. It has been observed that calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, attacks antigen-presenting cells, triggering an adaptive immune response. Objective. To describe the most common pathologies associated with vitamin D deficiency in post-COVID-19 geriatric patients through a systematic review. Methodology. This research is a literature review article with a descriptive approach using a systematic overview to collect information based on research articles related to vitamin D deficiency in geriatric patients and SARS-CoV-2. Information was collected from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Results. Sixteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were included, in which it was observed that most patients had serum vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL, suggesting a significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in this population. Furthermore, a relationship between this deficiency and arterial hypertension, diabetes, and, above all, severe cases of the disease was evidenced. Conclusion. The relationship between low vitamin D levels and worse outcomes in cases of COVID-19 or complications during and after the disease is evident, emphasizing the relevance of considering vitamin D as a significant factor in managing and prognosing the disease in older adults.