The goal of this observational study is to measure the changes in the parameters of endocrine function and tissue sensitivity to hormones induced by SARs-CoV-2 infection. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does SARs-CoV-2 infection causes endocrine dysfunctions? * Does the treatment of the underlying endocrine dysfunctions, improves the clinical outcome or the occurrence of late onset complications of SARs-CoV-2 infection? * Are patients with previously known endocrine diseases more fragile in case of SARs-CoV-2 infection? Participants will undergo blood testing and a physical examination at admission, during hospitalization at discharge and 3 and 6 moths after discharge They results will be compared to those of patients admitted for other reasons in order to assess whether the prevalence of endocrine dysfunctions is increased compared with controls.
The objectives of the study are the following: Primary objectives: 1. to measure endocrine function tests in patients affected by COVID-19, in order to evaluate whether SARs-CoV-2 causes endocrine alterations and whether endocrine diseases/dysfunctions correlate with the severity of SARs-CoV-2 infection and mortality. 2. to evaluate whether genetic variants in the sex-steroid or vitamin D (VDR) nuclear receptors or ACE are more prevalent in patients with SARs-CoV-2 infection than controls. 3. to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation in subjects with vitamin D deficiency may influence the outcome of SARs-CoV-2 infection 4. To correlate the influence of overweight/obesity/neck circumference with the evolution of SARs-CoV-2 infection Secondary objectives: Correlate the endocrine function tests with patients' age, disease's outcome, markers of inflammation. The identification of endocrine conditions associated with a worse outcome of SARs-CoV-2 infection, would identify significant risk factors to be reduced/prevented in these patients. For example, if endocrine patients will result more fragile in case of infection, we could systematically screen some parameters and early treat associated defects in order improve the outcome of SARs-CoV-2 infection.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
220
blood testing for basal hormones and markers of inflammation
Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS
Milan, Italy
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: TSH
Change in TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), mU/L
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: IL-6
Change in IL-6 (interleukin-6), U/L
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: Testosterone
Change in total and free calculated testosterone, nmol/l
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: Cortisol
Change in cortisol, ug/dl
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: Reactive C-protein
Change in reactive C protein, mg/dl
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: ACTH
Change in ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone), pg/ml
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Endocrine function and markers of inflammation: 25-OH vitamin D
Change in 25-OH vitamin D, ng/ml
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Prevalence of genetic variants of target genes
NGS/direct sequence of androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PGR), estrogen receptors (ESR1 and 2), vitamin D receptor (VDR), Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Effect of vitamin D deficiency
Assessment of the following parameters of clinical outcome: mortality, complication during hospitalization, complication after discharge, quality of life
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
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