COVID-19 patients with altered steroid hormone levels are more likely to have higher disease severity

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the correlations between the severity of the disease and serum steroid levels by analyzing the serum steroid levels in COVID-19 patients with different levels of disease progression and the control group. Methods Morning serum Aldosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, Androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Corticosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Estrone, Estradiol, Progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, Cortisol, Corticosterone, Androsterone, Pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 21-deoxycortisol levels were measured in 153 consecutive patients were grouped as mild, moderate, and severe based on the WHO COVID-19 disease severity classification and the control group. Steroid hormone levels were analyzed at once with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS). Results In our study, nearly all steroids were statistically significantly higher in the patients' group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Also, DHEA was an independent indicator of the disease severity with COVID-19 Conclusions Our study reveals that the alteration in steroid hormone levels was correlated with disease severity. Also, steroid hormone levels should be followed up during COVID-19 disease management.

Automated summary

This study reveals a correlation between alteration in steroid hormone levels and disease severity in COVID-19 patients, suggesting the importance of monitoring steroid hormone levels during disease management.