Research Article

Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis

Volume: 9 Number: 2 March 12, 2026

Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis

Abstract

Aims: Vitamin B12 (Vit B12) plays important role in immune modulation. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes, laboratory findings, and survival rates among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) based on their vit B12 levels and to identify factors associated with mortality. Methods: This retrospective study examined ICU patients with COVID-19. Patients were categorized into three groups according to their vit B12 levels at ICU admission: normal (Vit B12-N), low (Vit B12-L) and high (Vit B12). The groups were compared in terms of patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, and survival outcomes. Additionally, the characteristics and laboratory values of the entire cohort were analyzed based on survival status. Results: A total of 665 patients were included (Vit B12-N: 539; Vit B12-L: 39; Vit B12-H: 87). There were no differences in disease severity, clinical characteristics, length of stay, and mortality between the groups (p>0.05). The high vit B12 group showed higher RDW and lower albumin levels compared with the normal vit B12 group (p<0.05). A higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was found to be independently associated with increased mortality (p=0.000). Conclusion: Serum vit B12 levels at ICU admission were not associated with disease severity, clinical outcomes, or survival in critically ill patients with COVID-19. APACHE II score was the only variable independently associated with mortality. However, the observed relationships between vit B12 levels and RDW and albumin suggest the presence of complex metabolic interactions that require further investigation in prospective, multicenter studies.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Intensive Care

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 12, 2026

Submission Date

January 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

February 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Kayar Çalılı, D., Yüzbaşıoğlu, N., Bölükbaşı, D., Seğmen, F., Erdem, D., Özkoçak Turan, I., & İzdeş, S. (2026). Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(2), 462-468. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854699
AMA
1.Kayar Çalılı D, Yüzbaşıoğlu N, Bölükbaşı D, et al. Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(2):462-468. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854699
Chicago
Kayar Çalılı, Duygu, Nihal Yüzbaşıoğlu, Demet Bölükbaşı, et al. 2026. “Vitamin B12 Status and Outcomes in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit With COVID-19: A Three-Group Comparative Analysis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (2): 462-68. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854699.
EndNote
Kayar Çalılı D, Yüzbaşıoğlu N, Bölükbaşı D, Seğmen F, Erdem D, Özkoçak Turan I, İzdeş S (March 1, 2026) Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 2 462–468.
IEEE
[1]D. Kayar Çalılı et al., “Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 462–468, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1854699.
ISNAD
Kayar Çalılı, Duygu - Yüzbaşıoğlu, Nihal - Bölükbaşı, Demet - Seğmen, Fatih - Erdem, Deniz - Özkoçak Turan, Işıl - İzdeş, Seval. “Vitamin B12 Status and Outcomes in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit With COVID-19: A Three-Group Comparative Analysis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/2 (March 1, 2026): 462-468. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1854699.
JAMA
1.Kayar Çalılı D, Yüzbaşıoğlu N, Bölükbaşı D, Seğmen F, Erdem D, Özkoçak Turan I, İzdeş S. Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:462–468.
MLA
Kayar Çalılı, Duygu, et al. “Vitamin B12 Status and Outcomes in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit With COVID-19: A Three-Group Comparative Analysis”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 462-8, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854699.
Vancouver
1.Duygu Kayar Çalılı, Nihal Yüzbaşıoğlu, Demet Bölükbaşı, Fatih Seğmen, Deniz Erdem, Işıl Özkoçak Turan, Seval İzdeş. Vitamin B12 status and outcomes in patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19: a three-group comparative analysis. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Mar. 1;9(2):462-8. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1854699

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