The Relation between the Plasma Level of Testosterone Hormone and the Severity of COVID-19 in Iraqi Patients

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 discovered in December 2019, Wuhan, China. It was transmitted globally producing the present COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive organs and male fertility as the number of infections in the male community has increased. The objectives of current study are studying the relationship between the plasma levels of testosterone and the markers of immune reaction with the severity and mortality in a sample of COVID-19 patients. A cross section study included NO= 103 male patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, diagnosed by PCR and chest CT scan, (≥ 18 years old), and recovered in the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Several biochemical risk factors were determined Free Testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA), D-dimer, Ferritin, CRP, Urea, Creatinine were measured by automated method by using Abbott Architect c4000 and Complete Blood Count(CBC). The results show that the serum free testosterone and SHBG levels a significant lower in non-survivor patients than survivor patients with COVID-19. While the other biomarkers (D-dimer, Ferritin, Urea, Creatinine) were significant higher in non-survivor patients than survivor patients. The CRP, WBC and lymphocyte showed that no significant between the both group of patients. In conclusion the study showed that lower free testosterone and SHBG levels enable significant role in increasing risk of COVID-19 mortality amongst adult male patients.