SynthesisPloS one2023
Unraveling the relationship between ACTH and cortisol levels in COVID-19 infections: A meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of cortisol levels in Plasmodium infections.Scientific reports · 2024Pooled it
- Relapse of Cyclic Cushing Syndrome With a 19-Year Remission: Potential Involvement of COVID-19 in the Relapse.JCEM case reports · 2025Article
- Correlation between SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody titers and the hormones DHEA, cortisol, testosterone, and progesterone.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
- Altered association between cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in the early stage of type 2 diabetic ketoacidosis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveIn December 2019, a novel pneumonia associated with the 2019 coronavirus emerged unexpectedly. However, limited data exist on the effects of COVID-19 on ACTH and cortisol levels. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a meta-analysis of published studies on the relationship between COVID-19 patients and their ACTH and cortisol levels.
methodsWe conducted a thorough search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases up until May 2023. We assessed the relevance of each study we found, specifically looking for studies that reported on ACTH and cortisol levels in COVID-19 patients. We calculated weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to investigate the relationship between ACTH and cortisol levels in COVID-19 patients. We evaluated the quality of each study using the Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS), and we assessed publication bias using Begg's rank correlation test, Egger's test, and funnel plot. We conducted our meta-analysis using the Stata 12.0 (Stata Corporation, TX).
resultsOur search yielded nine studies that met our inclusion criteria, which included a total of 440 COVID-19 patients and 474 controls, with data up to May 2023. Seven of these studies reported on ACTH levels, and six studies reported on cortisol levels. Our findings revealed that COVID-19 patients had significantly higher levels of cortisol compared to controls (WMD 3.46 (95% CI 2.29 to 4.62)). However, there was no significant difference in ACTH levels between COVID-19 patients and controls (WMD 1.58 (95% CI -5.79 to 8.94)).
conclusionsThis meta-analysis indicates a potential relationship between elevated cortisol levels and COVID-19 infection. However, more well-designed, adequately powered, randomized controlled trial will be needed to assess the use of cortisol in patients with COVID-19 infection.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.