Abstract
RAAS could play a substantial role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19.
Also, the dynamics of the HPA axis may have changed in COVID-19. So, we
aimed to assess RAAS and the HPA axis in COVID-19 suspicious outpatients
referred to 16-hour comprehensive health centers in Abadan. Demographic
and clinical data were collected. Serum cortisol and aldosterone
measurements and blood grouping were done. Clinical symptoms of the
positive PCR group were followed up on for four weeks. SPO2 was
significantly lower in the positive PCR group, but the respiratory rate
was significantly higher (P = 0.03 and P =0.001,
respectively). Outpatients with the O blood group showed higher levels
of cortisol in comparison to those with A and AB blood groups (P =
0.003 and P = 0.03 respectively) in the positive PCR group.
Negative PCR individuals with the AB blood type had significantly higher
levels of cortisol compared with those who had A (P = 0.02) and O
(P =0.03) blood types. We saw significantly higher levels of
aldosterone in males of the negative PCR group in comparison with
females (P = 0.05). Cortisol (OR= 0.937, P = 0.033) and
aldosterone (OR= 1.005, P = 0.020) levels had a decreasing and
increasing effect on the chances of respiratory symptoms occurring over
time, respectively. Also, over time, women were twice as likely as men
to develop neurologic symptoms (OR= 0.530, P = 0.015). Cortisol
and aldosterone are associated with the chance of respiratory symptoms
occurring over time. However, the levels of these two markers do not
seem to be related to the lower grades of COVID-19.
Keywords: SARS-CoV2, RT-PCR, COVID-19, Aldosterone,
Cortisol, ABO system of blood groups