Impact of low serum calcium at hospital admission on SARS-CoV-2 infection outcome
Berta Torres, Pau Alcubilla, Ana González-Cordón, Alexy Inciarte, Mariana Chumbita, Celia Cardozo, Fernanda Meira, Marga Giménez, Ana de Hollanda, Àlex Soriano, Laia Albiach, Daiana Agüero, Juan Ambrosioni, Marta Bodro, José Luís Blanco, Lorena de la Mora, Felipe García, Nicole García-Pouton, Carolina García‐Vidal, Marta Hernández‐Meneses, Montserrat Laguno, Lorna Leal, Laura Linares, Irene Macaya, Josep Mallolas, Estebán Martínez, Maria Martínez‐Rebollar, José M. Miró, José Mensa, Asunción Moreno, Antonio Moreno, Estela Moreno-García, Laura Morata, José Antonio Martínez, Pedro Puerta‐Alcalde, Verónica Rico, John Rojas, Montserrat Solá, Manuel Muñoz‐Torres
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Calcium is an essential ion for pathogen survival and virulence and is involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response. Hypocalcemia is a common laboratory finding in critically ill patients. Data regarding levels of calcium in SARS-CoV-2 infection is scarce. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who present with hypocalcemia could have a worse outcome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and included all patients who had any serum calcium measurement in the first 72h since hospital admission. The main objective was to investigate the relation of low serum calcium with adverse outcome, measured by the requirement of high oxygen support - defined as high flow nasal cannula oxygen, non-invasive mechanical ventilation and/or invasive ventilation - intensive care unit admission or death. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients were included in the study. Median age was 65 years (IQR 55-74); 65% were men. Hypocalcemia within 72h since hospital admission was present in 63% of patients. A higher number of patients in the hypocalcemia group required high oxygen support during hospitalization (49% vs 32%; p=0,01) and were admitted to the ICU (42% vs 26%; p=0,005). No differences in mortality were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Hypocalcemia is frequent in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and can identify patients who will have a worse outcome. More studies are needed to understand the role of calcium metabolism in SARS-CoV-2 infection and to address the clinical implications and therapeutic interventions it might have.