Thyroid dysfunction is associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes

Öz

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effects of the thyroid hormone level on the hospitalization rate and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Methods: Patients with a positive PCR test result and having their TSH, fT3, and fT4 values tested. The patients were classified according to their thyroids' functional status. The hospital and intensive care unit hospitalization rates and the mortality rate were evaluated. Results: A total of 708 patients were included in the study. 225 (31.8%) patients were euthyroid. The rates of hospitalization to the intensive care unit (p < 0.001) and the clinic (p < 0.001) and the mortality rate (0.012) were lower. 483 (68.2%) were classified as euthyroid sick syndrome. In 305 (43.1%) patients, only the fT3 level was low, whereas in 47 (6.6%), both fT3 and fT4 were low, and in 131 (18.5%) patients, the fT3, fT4, and TSH levels were low. BUN, creatinine, D-dimer, neutrophil %, troponin T, CRP, procalcitonin, and LDH were higher in patients with thyroid dysfunction, and the aPTT was longer. In contrast, the leukocyte count and percentage were lower. Conclusions: The intensive care hospitalization rate, the duration of hospitalization in the clinic, and the mortality rate were lower in euthyroid patients. ICU hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in patients with low fT3 and fT4 levels. Thyroid dysfunction is common in COVID-19 patients. The variations in serum TSH and T3 levels may significantly indicate disease severity in COVID-19. Keywords: COVID-19; intensive care; euthyroid sick syndrome

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19;
• intensive care;
• euthyroid sick syndrome

Kaynakça

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