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Abstract

Background:   COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has impacted over 264 million people and caused over 5 million deaths worldwide. Symptoms often include viral pneumonia, with complications like acute respiratory distress or sepsis, as well as myocarditis and kidney damage. The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on endocrine glands, as well as to develop a classification of stages of the course of COVID-19 to improve and simplify morphological diagnosis. Methods:  The studies conducted include systemic analysis of the para-clinical data of patients who died of COVID-19 (according to medical documentation); a macroscopic study assessing the size and weight of external manifestations of endocrine organ lesions in COVID-19 cases with statistical evaluation of the detected signs. Archive analysis covers para-clinical data and data on significant concomitant and background pathologies based on the medical histories of 780 deaths from COVID-19 in infectious diseases hospitals of the city of Kostanay (Kazakhstan) during the period from 2019 to 2022. Result:  Using pathomorphologic data from COVID-19 autopsies, we developed a scale for semi-quantitative analysis of each case. Medical data analysis suggests that the most notable endocrine changes are elevated blood glucose and low catecholamine levels due to adrenal hemosiderosis. No significant changes in sex or thyroid hormones were observed. Conclusion:  The obtained findings require further consideration, given that the studied patients make up a rather diverse group. Nevertheless, the study can serve as an additional source of information in the struggle against COVID-19. Keywords: Coronavirus infection; Endocrine glands; Stage of disease