Growth hormone level in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) disease can cause asymptomatic and mild flu-like symptoms as well as severe symptoms ranging from respiratory failure and death. Growth hormone (GH) is produced in the anterior pituitary and plays an important role in the immune system. COVID-19 is severe in the elderly, men, obese, diabetics, and people with immune deficiency. The probability of GH deficiency is high in these patient groups. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of COVID-19 infection and GH level. METHODS: A total of 456 patients, between 45 and 80-years-old, who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease were evaluated in the study. Our study was a retrospective study. Demographic data of the patients, GH, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), and biochemical parameters and thorax tomography results were evaluated. Patients with chronic diseases that would affect GH levels and those in need of intensive care were excluded from the study. RESULTS: 456 patients were included in the study, 168 female, 288 male, mean age 67.57±12.60 years. Patients were divided into two groups according to thorax tomography findings, patients with lung involvement in Group-1:352 (77%) and those without pulmonary involvement in Group-2:104 (23%). While the GH of Group-1 was 0.125 ng/ml, the GH of Group-2 was 0.238 ng/ml, the difference between them was statistically significant (p=0.000). IGF-1 in Group-1 was: 55.05 ng/ml, while IGF-1 in Group-2 was: 104.08 ng/ml, the difference between them was statistically significant (p=0.000). In multivariate regression analysis, low IGF-1 (p=<0,01, OR:1,06 [1028-1093]) level was found to be significantly effective in lung involvement in COVID-19 disease. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found GH and IGF-1 deficiency in COVID-19 cases with lung involvement, regardless of age and gender. We can say that COVID-19 infection progresses worse in GH and IGF-1 deficiency.

The relationship of serum testosterone levels with the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 disease in male patients: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: A potential role of testosterone among sex hormones has been hypothesized in identifying sex-related differences in the clinical consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Due to the high global prevalence of hypogonadism, the relationship between hypogonadism and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes deserves an in-depth study. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum testosterone with other laboratory parameters on the prognosis of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in male patients with COVID-19 diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 358 male patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and 92 COVID-19 negative patients admitted to the urology outpatient clinics as a control group. The COVID-19 patients were divided into groups according to prognosis (mild-moderate and severe group), lung involvement in chest computed tomography (<50% and >50%), intensive care unit needs, and survival. RESULTS: The measured serum total testosterone level of the COVID-19 patients group was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group (median, 140 ng/dl; range, 0.21-328, 322 ng/dl; range, median, 125-674, p < 0.001, respectively). The serum TT levels were statistically significantly lower in severe COVID-19 patients compared to mild-moderate COVID-19 patients (median, 85.1 ng/dl; range, 0.21-532, median, 315 ng/dl; range, 0.88-486, p < 0.001, respectively), in COVID-19 patients in need of intensive care compared to COVID-19 patients who did not need intensive care (median, 64.0 ng/dl; range, 0.21-337, median, 286 ng/dl; range, 0.88-532 p < 0.001, respectively), and in COVID-19 patients who died compared to survivors (median, 82.9 ng/dl; range, 2.63-165, median, 166 ng/dl; range, 0.21-532, p < 0.001, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our data are compatible with low TT levels playing a role on the pathogenesis of the disease in Covid-19 patients with poor prognosis and a mortal course and may guide clinicians in determining the clinical course of the disease.

The Effect of the Presence of Lower Urinary System Symptoms on the Prognosis of COVID-19: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which occur as a natural result of aging and androgen exposure, in predicting disease prognosis in male patients diagnosed with COVID-19. METHODS: The study was planned prospectively. The study included 63 male patients over 40 years of age diagnosed with COVID-19. The patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 based on the results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs obtained as per the World Health Organization guidelines. The presence of LUTS was assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), a subjective assessment, and the I-PSS was filled for the patients included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups based on their scores in the I-PSS survey: group 1: mild (0-7), group 2: moderate (8-19), and group 3: severe (20-35). The data of all three groups were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the assessment performed between the groups, it was identified that for patients in group 3, the length of hospital stay was longer, intensive care requirement was more frequent, and their mortality rates were numerically higher. In the evaluation made regarding the time to intensive care admittance, this was identified to be the shortest in group 3. CONCLUSION: As a result of our study, we think that in patients with COVID-19, BPH-related LUTS can guide clinicians in predicting prognosis.