COVID-19 fatalities, latitude, sunlight, and vitamin D.
Am J Infect Control
; 48(9): 1042-1044, 2020 09.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32599103
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Since Vitamin D is known to be vital in regulating the immune system, and sunlight UV radiation exposure on the skin produces Vitamin D and UV intensity is highest nearest the equator, a study was done to examine the correlation between the latitude and COVID-19 fatality rates for countries.METHODS:
Eighty-eight countries were selected based on their likelihood of providing reliable data. Using death rates/million for each country from the "worldometer" website, a correlation analysis was done between death rates and a country's latitude.RESULTS:
A highly significant, positive correlation was found between lower death rates and a country's proximity to the equator (Pearson râ¯=â¯0.40 P < .0001, 2-tailed t test). The R squared of 0.16 means that 16% of the variation in death rates among nations is accounted for by the latitude of the country. Evidence is presented suggesting a direct correlation between sunlight exposure and reduced mortality.DISCUSSION:
This study is the first to document a statistically significant correlation between a country's latitude and its COVID-19 mortality and is consistent with other research regarding latitude, Vitamin D deficiency, and COVID-19 fatalities. Limitations of this study are noted.CONCLUSIONS:
Further research is needed to confirm the correlation between latitude and COVID-19 fatalities, and to determine the optimum amounts of safe sunlight exposure and/or vitamin D oral supplementation to reduce COVID-19 fatalities in populations that are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Sunlight
/
Vitamin D
/
Global Health
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Betacoronavirus
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Infect Control
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article