Vitamin D deficiency has been studied in the context of acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), revealing associations with increased severity and mortality. Yet, the influence of vitamin D on long COVID symptoms remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of vitamin D on long COVID symptoms. Over the study period, 50,432 individuals within the catchment area of the outpatient COVID-19 clinic tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR, with 547 patients subsequently referred to a specialized Post-COVID Clinic, and 447 of them enrolled in the study. Patient-reported symptoms and paraclinical measures including vitamin D were evaluated in 442 patients. The majority of participants were female (72%, n = 320/442). The consumption of alcohol and number of current smokers were low. Low vitamin D was observed in 26% (n = 115/442) of the patients, most commonly in male participants (odds ratio (OR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 2.79), p = 0.014). Additionally, low vitamin D was correlated with a younger mean age of 41 years (standard deviation (SD) = 12) as opposed to 48 years (SD = 13) in patients with normal vitamin D levels (OR = 0.96, 95% CI (0.94, 0.97), p < 0.001). While our study population indicated a potentially higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in this population compared to the general population, no significant differences in prevalence of symptom or symptom severity scores were observed between the low and normal vitamin D groups. In patients in a Post-COVID Clinic, we found no association between vitamin D levels and long COVID symptoms.

Sarcomas constitute a group of rare malignant neoplasms, commonly subcategorized into soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas. This study aims to describe the treatment modalities and outcome of head and neck sarcoma (HNS) patients in western Denmark and to identify prognostic factors for overall survival and recurrence in HNS patients. The Aarhus sarcoma registry, The National Danish Sarcoma Database, and the Danish National Pathology Registry were used to identify HNS adult patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2022. Altogether, 291 patients were included in this study. The prevalent histological subtypes were undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (16%; 48/291) and leiomyosarcoma (15%; 44/291) for STS patients (n = 230) and chondrosarcoma (10%; 28/291) and osteosarcoma (7%; 19/291) for bone sarcoma patients (n = 61). Surgery with curative intent was performed in 71% (164/230) and 70% (43/61) of STS and bone sarcoma patients, respectively. Clear resection was achieved in 59% (97/164) of STS patients and 44% (19/43) of bone sarcoma patients. Eighty-nine patients relapsed (STS n = 66, bone sarcoma n = 23) after a median time of 2.7/5.5 years for STS/bone sarcoma patients. The five-year overall survival rates were 45% for STS patients and 66% for bone sarcoma patients. The following factors were significantly, negatively associated with overall survival in STS patients: Age (hazard ratio (HR)) = 1.02, p < 0.001), tumour size ≥5 cm (HR = 1.75, p = 0.003), metastatic disease (HR = 3.17, p < 0.001), high grade tumour (HR = 2.24, p = 0.004), previous cancer (HR = 2.84, p < 0.001), and high Aarhus composite biomarker score (ACBS) (HR = 4.56, p = 0.001). For relapse in STS patients, higher tumour grade (HR = 3.19, p = 0.014), intralesional margins (HR = 2.84, p < 0.001), ≥2 previous cancers (HR = 3.00, p = 0.004), and high ACBS (HR = 3.29, p = 0.047), were negatively associated. For bone sarcomas only higher age (HR = 1.02, p = 0.049) and intralesional margins (HR = 2.91, p = 0.042) were significant negative factors for overall survival. Multiple prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse were identified, especially for STS patients.

Extremity soft-tissue sarcomas (ESTS) are rare neoplasms treated with limb-sparing surgery and radiation therapy (RT). While RT improves local control, it can be associated with late functional impairments that may affect health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). As survivorship care gains importance, understanding the relationship between functional outcomes (FO) and HR-QOL is crucial. This study evaluates the relationship between FO, measured by the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), and HR-QOL, assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). A cohort study including ESTS patients treated with RT (January 2009 to October 2024) was conducted. Eligible patients completed the TESS and QLQ-C30 questionnaires. Correlation analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and statistical comparisons were performed to assess the association between FO and HR-QOL and to determine a clinically relevant TESS threshold for impairment. Of 255 identified patients, 123 were eligible, and 61 (response rate: 52%) completed the questionnaires. TESS lower-limb scores showed strong correlations with QLQ-C30 physical (r = 0.74), role (r = 0.63), and social functioning (r = 0.62). Notably, ROC analysis identified a clinically meaningful TESS threshold of ≥80, demonstrating high sensitivity (88%) and specificity (100%) for detecting significant functional impairments. Most patients reported good FO and HR-QOL, but a subset experienced severe impairments. ESTS survivors generally maintain good function and HR-QOL, but functional impairments significantly affect some patients. The identified TESS threshold of ≥80 may help clinicians monitor at-risk patients and guide early interventions. Future studies should validate this threshold and explore interventions for patients with severe impairments.