Fig. 3.

Changes in the DHEA/Cortisol ratio during the day in COVID-19 patients, stratified by disease status, and healthy controls. a Cumulative DHEA/Cortisol ratio within each group, b Time-integrated changes of DHEA/Cortisol ratio during the day (calculated as the area under the curve|). COVID-19 patients are classified according to the severity of the disease (https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/overview/clinical-spectrum/) and their clinical course during the 4-week follow-up period of the study as mild-stable, moderate-stable, and moderate. **p < 0.05, comparisons were performed with the control group, using Kruskal–Wallis followed by Dunn’s multiple comparison test (comparing every group against the controls). AUC, area under the curve