Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Sex-Specific Total Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Status in Noncritically Ill Hospitalized Patients
Hurjahan Banu1, Md Shahed Morshed2, Nusrat Sultana1
1Department of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Insights
Gender differences in sex hormones were observed in non-critical COVID-19 patients. Total testosterone (TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels varied by sex and correlated with disease severity markers in males.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- COVID-19 Research
Background:
- Male COVID-19 patients often experience poorer outcomes.
- Limited data exists on sex hormone status in non-critical COVID-19 cases.
- Investigating total testosterone (TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess TT and DHEAS levels in non-critical COVID-19 patients.
- To analyze sex-specific variations in these hormone levels.
- To explore associations between hormone status and clinical/biochemical features.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional observational study of 91 non-critical COVID-19 patients (Sept 2021-Feb 2022).
- Serum TT and DHEAS measured via chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.
- Hormone status classified using age- and sex-specific reference values.
Main Results:
- Females showed high TT (27.8%), while males had normal TT.
- Males exhibited low DHEAS (29.7%); females had varied DHEAS levels.
- In males, lower DHEAS correlated with moderate COVID-19 severity. TT and DHEAS correlated with neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio; DHEAS with platelet/lymphocyte ratio.
- In females, TT correlated with serum sodium.
Conclusions:
- Significant gender-based differences in TT and DHEAS were found in non-critical COVID-19 patients.
- Hormone levels showed correlations with severity markers, particularly in males.
- These findings highlight the role of sex hormones in COVID-19.
Background:
In individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), male subjects have consistently been linked to poor severity and prognosis. Data on sex hormones in non-critical COVID-19-infected patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the status of total testosterone (TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) among noncritical patients with COVID-19 according to sex and their associations with clinical and biochemical features.
Materials And Methods:
This cross-sectional observational study was done in the COVID-19 unit of a University hospital during the period of September 2021 to February 2022 among 91 adults (18-65 years) with reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction confirmed noncritical COVID-19 patients. Blood was drawn by venipuncture before receiving steroids between 07:00 to 09:00 a.m. in a fasting state to measure serum TT and DHEAS by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Diagnosis and classification of COVID-19 were done according to World Health Organization's interim guidance. Age- and sex-specific laboratory reference values were used to classify the TT and DHEAS status of the patients.
Results:
Only three males (8.1%) had low TT and the rest had normal TT. On the other hand, 15 (27.8%) of the females had high TT with normal levels in the rest. Similarly, 11 (29.7%) males had low DHEAS. Females had low, normal, and high DHEAS in four (7.4%), 48 (88.9%), and two (3.7%) cases respectively. Males with moderate severity of COVID-19 had significantly lower DHEAS (post hoc P=0.038) than the mild group. Both TT (P=0.008) and DHEAS (P=0.023) significantly correlated with neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio and only DHEAS with platelets/lymphocytes ratio (P=0.044) in males. In females, TT significantly correlated with serum sodium (P=0.034).
Conclusion:
In noncritical COVID-19 patients, substantial gender variations in TT and DHEAS were detected and correlated with severity markers in males.
