Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

COVID-19 Alter Thyroid Function Tests During the Acute Phase

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 118 - 123, 30.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1633422

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate thyroid function tests in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, previously normal thyroid function.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted using the data of patients who visited COVID-19 outpatient clinics for the first time and had normal thyroid function in their medical history. All patients were divided into two groups based on their age and gender. Group I consisted of patients whose PCR test was positive for the first time, while Group II (control group) consisted of patients whose test was negative. The study examined the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), fT3 (free tri-iodothyronine), fT4 (free thyroxine), albumin, and total protein (TP) test parameters of all patients in both groups and compared the results. Statistical significance was assessed using SPSS 20.0, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The study included 1360 patients, with 356 in Group I and 1004 in Group II. In Group I, TSH levels were low, but fT3 and fT4 levels were significantly high. Additionally, albumin and TP values were significantly lower in Group I. A moderate positive correlation was found between albumin and fT3 levels, as well as between albumin and TP levels, in Group I. There was no statistically significant difference in age or gender distribution between the groups
Conclusions: There is a significant increase in thyroid function tests when COVID-19 infection is first diagnosed. However, detailed pathophysiological studies are needed to reveal the underlying reasons for this increase.

References

  • Yazar H, Kayacan Y, Ozdin M. De Ritis ratio and biochemical parameters in COVID-19 patients. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2022;128(6):1676-1680. doi:10.1080/13813455.2020.1788604
  • Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020;395:497–506. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
  • Yuan Y, Jiao B, Qu L, Yang D, Liu R. The development of COVID-19 treatment. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1125246. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125246
  • Davis HE, McCorkell L, Vogel JM, Topol EJ. Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21(3):133-146. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00846-2
  • Fallahi P, Elia G, Ragusa F, et al. Thyroid autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Clin Med. 2023;5;12(19):6365. doi:10.3390/jcm12196365
  • De Leo S, Lee SY, Braverman LE. Hyperthyroidism. Lancet. 2016;27;388(10047):906-918. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00278-6
  • Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al. American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343–1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229
  • Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395:1054-62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3
  • Gorini F, Bianchi F, Iervasi G. COVID-19 and thyroid: Progress and prospects. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;11;17(18):6630. doi:10.3390/ijerph17186630
  • Durgun C, Durgun M. Evaluation of thyroid function tests in patients with COVID-19. Cureus. 2023;19;15(6):e40628. doi:10.7759/cureus.40628
  • Wei W, Yi-xiu Y, Hao Y, et al. Evaluation and observation of serum thyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. J Chin Antituberculous Assoc. 2003;25:232–234. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.011
  • Wei L, Sun S, Xu CH, et al. Pathology of the thyroid in severe acute respiratory syndrome. Hum Pathol. 2007;38(1):95-102. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.011
  • Chen T, Wu D, Chen H, et al. Clinical characteristics of 113 deceased patients with coronavirus disease 2019: retrospective study. BMJ. 2020;368:m1091. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1091
  • Chen M, Zhou W, Xu W. Thyroid function analysis in 50 patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study. Thyroid 2021;31: 8–11. doi: 10.1089/thy.2020.0363.
  • Speer G, Somogyi P. Thyroid complications of SARS and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Endocrine Journal. 2021;68 (2), 129-136. doi:10.1507/endocrj.EJ20-0443
  • Gorini F, Bustaffa E, Coi A, Iervasi G, Bianchi F. Bisphenols as environmental triggers of thyroid dysfunction: Clues and evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17,2654. doi:10.3390/ijerph17082654
  • Lippi G, Plebani M, Laboratory abnormalities in patients with COVID-2019 infection, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2020;58(7):1131-1134. doi:10.1515/cclm-2020-0198
  • Soraya G, Ulhaq Z. Crucial laboratory parameters in COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis: An updated meta-analysis. Med Clin (Barc). 2020;155(4):143-151. doi:10.1016/j.medcli.2020.05.017
  • Kalabin A, Mani VR, Valdivieso SC, Donaldson B. Does C-reactive protein/ albumin ratio have prognostic value in patients with COVID-19? J Infect Dev Ctries. 2021;1(8):1086-93. doi:10.3855/jidc.14826

Covıd-19 Akut Dönemde Tiroid Fonksiyon Testlerini Bozuyor

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 118 - 123, 30.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1633422

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, geçmişte tiroid fonksiyonu normal olan COVID-19 tanısı almış hastalarda tiroid fonksiyon testlerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Materyal ve Metot: Bu araştırma, COVID-19 polikliniklerine ilk kez başvuran ve tıbbi geçmişinde normal tiroid fonksiyonu olan hastaların verileri kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Tüm hastalar yaş ve cinsiyetlerine göre iki gruba ayrılmıştır. Grup I, PCR testi ilk kez pozitif çıkan hastalardan oluşurken, Grup II (kontrol grubu) testi negatif çıkan hastalardan oluşmuştur. Çalışmada, her iki gruptaki tüm hastaların TSH (tiroid uyarıcı hormon), sT3 (serbest tri-iyodotironin), sT4 (serbest tiroksin), albumin ve toplam protein (TP) test parametreleri incelenmiş ve sonuçlar aralarında karşılaştırılmıştır. İstatistiksel anlamlılık SPSS 20.0 kullanılarak değerlendirilmiş ve 0,05'ten küçük p değeri anlamlı kabul edilmiştir.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya 1360 hasta dahil edilmiş olup, Grup I'de 356 ve Grup II'de 1004 hasta yer almıştır. Grup I'de TSH düzeyleri düşüktü, ancak sT3 ve sT4 düzeyleri anlamlı derecede yüksekti. Ek olarak, albümin ve TP değerleri Grup I'de anlamlı derecede düşüktü. Grup I'de albümin ve sT3 düzeyleri arasında ve albümin ve TP düzeyleri arasında orta düzeyde pozitif korelasyon bulundu. Gruplar arasında yaş veya cinsiyet dağılımında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark yoktu.
Sonuç: COVID-19 enfeksiyonu ilk teşhis edildiğinde tiroid fonksiyon testlerinde anlamlı bir artış vardır. Ancak, bu artışın altında yatan nedenleri ortaya çıkarmak için ayrıntılı patofizyolojik çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

References

  • Yazar H, Kayacan Y, Ozdin M. De Ritis ratio and biochemical parameters in COVID-19 patients. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2022;128(6):1676-1680. doi:10.1080/13813455.2020.1788604
  • Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020;395:497–506. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5
  • Yuan Y, Jiao B, Qu L, Yang D, Liu R. The development of COVID-19 treatment. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1125246. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125246
  • Davis HE, McCorkell L, Vogel JM, Topol EJ. Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21(3):133-146. doi:10.1038/s41579-022-00846-2
  • Fallahi P, Elia G, Ragusa F, et al. Thyroid autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Clin Med. 2023;5;12(19):6365. doi:10.3390/jcm12196365
  • De Leo S, Lee SY, Braverman LE. Hyperthyroidism. Lancet. 2016;27;388(10047):906-918. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00278-6
  • Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al. American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343–1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229
  • Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395:1054-62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3
  • Gorini F, Bianchi F, Iervasi G. COVID-19 and thyroid: Progress and prospects. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;11;17(18):6630. doi:10.3390/ijerph17186630
  • Durgun C, Durgun M. Evaluation of thyroid function tests in patients with COVID-19. Cureus. 2023;19;15(6):e40628. doi:10.7759/cureus.40628
  • Wei W, Yi-xiu Y, Hao Y, et al. Evaluation and observation of serum thyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. J Chin Antituberculous Assoc. 2003;25:232–234. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.011
  • Wei L, Sun S, Xu CH, et al. Pathology of the thyroid in severe acute respiratory syndrome. Hum Pathol. 2007;38(1):95-102. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.011
  • Chen T, Wu D, Chen H, et al. Clinical characteristics of 113 deceased patients with coronavirus disease 2019: retrospective study. BMJ. 2020;368:m1091. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1091
  • Chen M, Zhou W, Xu W. Thyroid function analysis in 50 patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study. Thyroid 2021;31: 8–11. doi: 10.1089/thy.2020.0363.
  • Speer G, Somogyi P. Thyroid complications of SARS and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Endocrine Journal. 2021;68 (2), 129-136. doi:10.1507/endocrj.EJ20-0443
  • Gorini F, Bustaffa E, Coi A, Iervasi G, Bianchi F. Bisphenols as environmental triggers of thyroid dysfunction: Clues and evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17,2654. doi:10.3390/ijerph17082654
  • Lippi G, Plebani M, Laboratory abnormalities in patients with COVID-2019 infection, Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2020;58(7):1131-1134. doi:10.1515/cclm-2020-0198
  • Soraya G, Ulhaq Z. Crucial laboratory parameters in COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis: An updated meta-analysis. Med Clin (Barc). 2020;155(4):143-151. doi:10.1016/j.medcli.2020.05.017
  • Kalabin A, Mani VR, Valdivieso SC, Donaldson B. Does C-reactive protein/ albumin ratio have prognostic value in patients with COVID-19? J Infect Dev Ctries. 2021;1(8):1086-93. doi:10.3855/jidc.14826
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other), Infectious Diseases, Medical Virology
Journal Section Research article
Authors

Hayrullah Yazar 0000-0001-9447-6322

Mehmet Özdin 0000-0003-3077-7171

Tayfur Demiray 0000-0003-1161-4684

Early Pub Date June 24, 2025
Publication Date June 30, 2025
Submission Date February 4, 2025
Acceptance Date June 19, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Cite

AMA Yazar H, Özdin M, Demiray T. COVID-19 Alter Thyroid Function Tests During the Acute Phase. OTJHS. June 2025;10(2):118-123. doi:10.26453/otjhs.1633422

Creative Commons License

Online Türk Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi [Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences (OTJHS)] is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an open-access journal distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC 4.0). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Click here to get help about article submission processes and "Copyright Transfer Form".