Vitamin D prescribing practices among clinical practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic

Edward B Jude; Nikolaos Tentolouris; Ashu Rastogi; Moi H Yap; Hermelinda C Pedrosa; Stephanie F Ling

doi:10.1002/hsr2.691

Vitamin D prescribing practices among clinical practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic

Health Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 11;5(4):e691. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.691. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Edward B Jude^{1

2

3}, Nikolaos Tentolouris⁴, Ashu Rastogi⁵, Moi H Yap³, Hermelinda C Pedrosa⁶, Stephanie F Ling²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Ashton-under-Lyne UK.
² Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology The University of Manchester Manchester UK.
³ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK.
⁴ 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Laiko General Hospital Athens Greece.
⁵ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India.
⁶ Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Endocrinology Unit, Research Centre, Taguatinga Regional Hospital Secretariat of Health Brasilia-DF Brazil.

Abstract

Background and aims: COVID-19 has caused devastation globally. Low vitamin D status, particularly during the winter months, remains commonplace around the world, and it is thought to be one of the contributing factors toward causation and severity of COVID-19. Many guidelines do not recommend vitamin D for the treatment or prevention of the disease. Hence, we set out to conduct a global survey to understand the use and prescribing habits of vitamin D among clinicians for COVID-19.

Methods: An online anonymous questionnaire was sent to clinicians enquiring about their prescribing habits of vitamin D and personal use of vitamin D. Data of the survey were collected between January 15, 2021, and February 13, 2021.

Results: Four thousand four hundred forty practicing clinicians were included in the analysis, with the majority of those responding from Asia, followed by Europe. 82.9% prescribed vitamin D before COVID-19, more commonly among general practitioners (GPs) in comparison with medical specialists, and Asian clinicians were more likely to prescribe vitamin D in comparison with Caucasian physicians (p < 0.01). GPs were also more likely to prescribe vitamin D prophylactically to prevent COVID-19 in comparison with medical specialists (OR 1.47, p < 0.01). Most GPs (72.8%) would also prescribe vitamin D to treat COVID-19 in comparison with medical specialists (OR 1.81, p < 0.01), as well as more Asian in comparison with Caucasian physicians (OR 4.57, p < 0.01). 80.4% of respondents were taking vitamin D, more so in the 45-54 and 65-74 age groups in comparison with the 18-24 years category (OR 2.15 and 2.40, respectively, both p < 0.05), many of whom did so before COVID-19 (72.1%).

Conclusion: This survey has shown that many clinicians would prescribe vitamin D for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The majority would also recommend measuring vitamin D levels, but not so in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID‐19; endocrinology and metabolic disorders; vitamin D.