Photo Credit: Bhadramani
The following is a summary of “Thyroid function during COVID-19 and post-COVID complications in adults: a systematic review,” published in the December 2024 issue of Endocrinology by Grammatopoulos et al.
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, affects multiple systems, including thyroid function. Thyroid dysfunction is increasingly recognized during and after COVID-19, with impacts on both acute and long-term health.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to explore thyroid dysfunction in adults during and after COVID-19.
They conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed and EMBASE databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of the studies featured was assessed by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), with 53 studies meeting the inclusion criteria.
The results showed that thyroid dysfunction was common during COVID-19, with conditions like thyroiditis and alterations in thyroid hormone levels. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction during acute COVID-19 ranged from 10% to 20%. Long COVID was associated with persistent thyroid abnormalities, including autoimmune thyroid diseases, affecting a significant proportion of people. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-6 (IL-6), were noted in people with thyroid dysfunction (P<0.05).
They concluded that thyroid dysfunction was a significant concern during and after COVID-19, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and management in people affected.
Source: frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1477389/abstract
