Análisis de la relación entre los niveles séricos de cortisol y COVID-19: revisión sistemática

Abstract

The aim of this work was to analyze the available evidence on the role that cortisol plays in the morbidity and mortality of coronavirus (COVID-19) by means of a systematic review. The design used was non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational, where 6.246 scientific articles were collected during April - September 2021. Considering both exclusion and inclusion criteria, a sample of thirty articles was obtained. A literature review was carried out where the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) methodology was applied, through which a limited number of elements were identified, these ones previously searched, collected and analyzed and obtained from different sources, in this way generating an explanation of the relationship between serum cortisol levels and COVID-19 disease. As a result, it was identified that the relationship between serum cortisol levels and morbidity due to COVID-19 is influenced by the consumption of cortisol to combat inflammatory diseases. In addition, the use of inhaled or systemic steroids can reduce cortisol secretions during acute stress and sometimes in this phase of stress, the synthesis of the cortisol transporter decreases, thus increasing free cortisol, since patients critically ill are affected by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which increases cortisol synthesis and secretion. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, go to the doctor to receive timely and effective treatment in order to combat this disease.