Adrenal Insufficiency at the Time of COVID-19: A Retrospective Study in Patients Referring to a Tertiary Center.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
; 106(3): e1354-e1361, 2021 03 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1127737
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a global health emergency, and infected patients with chronic diseases often present with a severe impairment. Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is supposed to be associated with an increased infection risk, which could trigger an adrenal crisis. OBJECTIVE:
Our primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 symptoms and complications in AI patients. DESIGN ANDSETTING:
We conducted a retrospective case-control study. All patients were on active follow-up and lived in Lombardy, Italy, one of the most affected areas. PATIENTS We enrolled 279 patients with primary and secondary AI and 112 controls (patients with benign pituitary lesions without hormonal alterations). All AI patients had been previously trained to modify their replacement therapy on stress doses. INTERVENTION By administering a standardized questionnaire by phone, we collected data on COVID-19 suggestive symptoms and consequences.RESULTS:
In February through April 2020, the prevalence of symptomatic patients (complaining at least 1 symptom of viral infection) was similar between the 2 groups (24% in AI and 22.3% in controls, P = 0.79). Highly suggestive COVID-19 symptoms (at least 2 including fever and/or cough) also occurred equally in AI and controls (12.5% in both groups). No patient required hospitalization and no adrenal crisis was reported. Few nasopharyngeal swabs were performed (n = 12), as indicated by sanitary regulations, limiting conclusions on the exact infection rate (2 positive results in AI and none in controls, P = 0.52).CONCLUSIONS:
AI patients who are adequately treated and trained seem to display the same incidence of COVID-19-suggestive symptoms and disease severity as controls.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adrenal Insufficiency
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Clinem
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