Can Low Cortisol Predict Long COVID? A Controversial Issue.

ABSTRACT: Cortisol dysregulation has been proposed as a biomarker of long COVID (LC), but findings remain inconsistent. Prior reports suggested low cortisol levels in LC, yet collection times and study designs varied substantially. To evaluate morning serum cortisol distributions in an independent LC cohort, accounting for circadian timing and sleep patterns, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of consecutive adults seen at the Stanford Long COVID Clinic between 14 February 2022 and 31 July 2024 (IRB #62996). Eligible participants had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptoms persisting ≥3 months per NASEM criteria, completion of the Alliance Sleep Questionnaire (ASQ), and a morning serum cortisol measured using the Roche Elecsys^® Cortisol II assay. Analyses were restricted

SUBMITTER: Quach TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12650455 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature