Serum Cortisol Levels in Patients Admitted to the Department of Medicine: Prognostic Correlations and Effects of Age, Infection, and Comorbidity

Serum cortisol level positively correlated with age, disease severity, and outcome. All admitted patients, except one, had normal to high serum cortisol. Whether this increased cortisol level is an adequate HPA response or less than required for the disease-induced stress should be investigated in further studies.