Endocrine and metabolic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 infection has tremendously impacted our daily clinical practice as well as our social living organization. Virtually all organs and biological systems suffer from this new coronavirus infection, either because the virus targets directly specific tissues or because of indirect effects. Endocrine diseases are not an exception and some of endocrine organs are at risk of direct or indirect lesion by COVID-19. Although there is still no evidence of higher predisposition to contract the infection in patients with diabetes and/or obesity, the coexistence of these conditions contributes to a worse prognosis because both conditions confer an impaired immunologic system. Cytokines storm can be amplified by these two latter conditions thereby leading to multisystemic failure and death. Glycaemic control has been demonstrated to be crucial to avoiding long hospital stays, ICU requirement and also prevention of excessive mortality. Endocrine treatment modifications as a consequence of COVID-19 infection are required in a proactive manner, in order to avoid decompensation and eventual hospital admission. This is the case of diabetes and adrenal insufficiency in which prompt increase of insulin dosage and substitutive adrenal steroids through adoption of the sick day’s rules should be warranted, as well as easy contact with the health care provider through telematic different modalities. New possible endocrinological targets of COVID-19 have been recently described and warrant a full study in the next future.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak requires that endocrinologists move forward, even more, to the first line of care of our patients, in collaboration with other physicians such as those in internal medicine and emergency units. This will preserve the health condition and prevent the adverse COVID-19-related outcomes in people affected by different endocrine diseases. People with diabetes in particular, are among those in high-risk categories for developing serious illness modality of COVID-19 infection if they get the virus, but other endocrine diseases such as obesity, malnutrition and adrenal insufficiency may also be strongly impacted by COVID-19

Endocrinology and Metabolism: Open Access is a peer reviewed journal which focuses on the publication of current research and developments on the endocrine glands and its secretions with their coordination with metabolism and reproduction.

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Media Contact
Eliza Grace
Associate Managing Editor
Endocrinology and Metabolism: Open Access
E-Mail: endometabol@emedscholar.com