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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew research presented at this week’s ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID, held online from 23-25 September) shows that having a lower level of zinc in the blood is associated with a poorer outcome in patients with COVID-19. The study is by Dr. Roberto G\u00fcerri-Fern\u00e1ndez, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues.<\/p>\n
Increased intracellular zinc<\/a> concentrations efficiently impair replication\/reproduction of a number of viruses. However, the effect of plasma zinc levels on SARS-COV-2 is not yet understood. In this study, the authors explored whether plasma zinc levels at admission<\/a> are associated with disease outcome in COVID-19 patients.<\/p>\n The authors did a retrospective analysis of symptomatic admitted patients to a tertiary university hospital in Barcelona, Spain over the period from 15th March 2020 to 30th April 2020. Data on demography, pre-existing chronic conditions, laboratory results and treatment were collected. Clinical severity of COVID-19 was assessed at admission. Fasting plasma zinc levels were measured routinely at admission (baseline) in all patients admitted to the COVID-19 Unit. Computer modelling and statistical analyses<\/a> were used the assess the impact of zinc on mortality.<\/p>\n During this period of study 611 patients were admitted. The mean age was 63 years, and 332 patients were male (55%). During this period total mortality was 87 patients (14%).<\/p>\n This study includes 249 of these patients (of whom 21 [8%]) died. The authors say the 249 patients in this analysis are representative of the whole cohort of 611, and data collection<\/a> and analysis for the other patients is ongoing\u2014but the continuation of the study has been made difficult by the arrival of the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 in Spain.<\/p>\n Mean baseline zinc levels among the 249 patients were 61 mcg\/dl. Among those who died, the zinc levels at baseline were significantly lower at 43mcg\/dl vs 63.1mcg\/dl in survivors. Higher zinc levels were associated with lower maximum levels of interleukin-6 (proteins that indicate systemic inflammation) during the period of active infection.<\/p>\n After adjusting by age, sex, severity and receiving hydroxychloroquine, statistical analysis<\/a> showed each unit increase of plasma zinc at admission to hospital was associated with a 7% reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. Having a plasma zinc level lower than 50mcg\/dl at admission was associated with a 2.3 times increased risk of in-hospital death compared with those patients<\/a> with a plasma<\/a> zinc level of 50mcg\/dl or higher.<\/p>\n The authors conclude: “Lower zinc levels at admission correlate with higher inflammation in the course of infection and poorer outcome. Plasma zinc levels at admission are associated with mortality in COVID-19 in our study. Further studies are needed to assess the therapeutic impact of this association.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sponsored by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Credit: CC0 Public Domain New research presented at this week’s ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID, held online from 23-25 September) shows that having a lower level of zinc in the blood is associated with a poorer outcome in patients with COVID-19. The study is … <\/p>\n
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