Background: The global community has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pneumonia outbreak, which has also put a strain on the ability of healthcare systems around the world.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to detect the incidence of thyroid hormonal disturbance in Covid-19 patients.
Patients and methods: This prospective cohort study included 177 positive Covid-19 patients were enrolled at Internal Medicine Department, Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospitals. TSH, FT4, FT3 and TPO antibody were estimated. Follow up of the patients who revealed abnormal lab results during covid-19 infection 1 month after discharge from hospital.
Results: The current study showed age was distributed as 57.83±12.9. Females are significantly associated with abnormal thyroid functions. Leucocytes are significantly high in all groups. Granulocytes were significantly higher among thyrotoxicosis than other groups while lymphopenia and mild elevation in monocytes can be seen in all groups. ESR and CRP are significantly high in all groups.TSH is slightly elevated in Sick Euthyroid group while Free T3 and Free T4 are Low. Free T4 was significantly lower among hypothyroid group and significantly higher among Thyrotoxicosis group and TSH was significantly higher among hypothyroid group and significantly lower among Thyrotoxicosis group.
Conclusion: Thyroid function abnormalities were common in COVID-19 patients seems to dynamically change within the course of disease and recover gradually and spontaneously. While this may be partially explained by non-thyroidal illness syndrome or thyroiditis, it is also possible that the thyroid gland is a direct target ofthe SARS CoV-2 virus.