A systematic review and meta-analysis of effect of vitamin D levels on the incidence of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease primarily affecting the respiratory tract, however due to the nature of the pathogenesis it is able to affect the whole body. So far, no causative treatment has been found and the main strategy when dealing with COVID-19 relies on widespread vaccination programs and symptomatic treatment. Vitamin D due to its ability to modulate the immunological system has been proposed as a factor playing role in the organism response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Therefore, we decided to perform this meta-analysis which aimed to establish a connection between vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Collaboration Databases and Scopus electronic databases were searched for relevant studies from database inception to May 10th, 2021. Mean differences (MDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Thirteen studies providing data for 14,485 participants met the inclusion criteria. Mean vitamin D levels in SARS-CoV-2 negative patients was 17.7 ± 6.9 ng/mL compared to SARS-CoV-2 positive patients 14.1 ± 8.2 ng/mL (MD = 3.93; 95% CI 2.84-5.02; I2 = 99%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low serum vitamin D levels are statistically significantly associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection. Supplementation of vitamin D especially in the deficiency risk groups is indicated.

Hospitalizations due to alcohol intoxication among children and adolescents - data from one clinical hospital in Poland. / Hospitalizacje z powodu zatruc alkoholem etylowym wsród dzieci i mlodziezy ­ dane pochodzace z jednego szpitala klinicznego w Polsce.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of hospitalizations due to alcohol intoxication (AI) at the Pediatric Health Center, and to attempt to identify factors contributing to the occurrence of intoxication in the population of children and adolescents. METHODS: Medical documentation of 227 patients hospitalized due to AI. 108 (48%) patients were girls and 119 (52%) patients were boys. The mean age of the study group was 14.9 years ±2.1. Data regarding patients, their families and the circumstances of intoxication underwent analysis. RESULTS: Alcohol intoxication constituted 2.8% of all hospitalizations. The number of hospitalizations between 2000 and 2011 showed an increasing tendency with some fluctuations within years. Spirits were predominant alcohol beverages. Over 10% of patients required a short-term hospital stay at the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. In 13% of children, coexisting medicine or drug intoxication was observed and 10% of patients presented with alcohol-related injury to the head or extremities. Risky sexual behaviors were noted in 25% of girls. The majority of children were raised by two parents who had received primary education. Alcoholism was present in over 20% of the families. In single-parent families, fathers were more frequently absent and a lack of a regular source of income was more often related to mothers. CONCLUSIONS: There are no uniform standards of multi-specialist medical care for children hospitalized due to AI. Identification of children consuming alcohol is recommended. It should be done by primary physicians, pediatricians, teachers and psychologists. Minor patients hospitalized due to AI should be provided with a long-term and comprehensive care.