Volume 11, Issue 2 (March & April - Special Issue on COVID-19 2020)                   BCN 2020, 11(2): 179-184 | Back to browse issues page


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1- Skull-Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Anesthesiology Research Center, Loghman Hakim Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Brain Mapping Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:  
Introduction: The outbreak due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is n global public health emergency and challenges psychological resilience. The central nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system are complex interacting systems. Cortisol has been implicated as the cause of a wide range of mental and physical health disorders; however, the impact of cortisol on outcomes in patients with COVID-19 is not clear.
Methods: The current study enrolled patients with COVID-19 (onset of disease within 7 days of the first symptom) to evaluate the serum concentration of cortisol and levels of anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to investigate a possible relationship between cortisol, depression, and anxiety levels and outcomes of patients with COVID-19. 
Results: A total of 30 patients with COVID-19 were studied. The levels of cortisol and HADS score in patients who died of Covid-19 were significantly higher in comparison with surviving patients (P<0.017 and P<0.001 respectively). We also found that the HADS score was positively correlated with serum cortisol levels (r= 0.842, P=0.004). 
Conclusion: Our findings showed that stress and anxiety are associated with patients’ outcomes. Psychological interventions can improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.
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Type of Study: Original | Subject: Clinical Neuroscience
Received: 2020/05/3 | Accepted: 2020/06/12 | Published: 2020/06/14

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