Thyroid Hormones Determination in Euthyroid and LT4-Treated Patients During COVID-19 Hospitalization.

Abstract

The global impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was significant, including in Spain. The initial outbreak in late January 2020 prompted a frantic effort to comprehend the virus and contain its spread, given the limited knowledge available at the time. The study by Amich et al. (2022) in Frontiers in Endocrinology aimed to investigate the influence of thyroid hormone levels and age on the severity of COVID-19 in euthyroid and levothyroxine-treated patients. Although a direct correlation between thyroid hormone levels and the severity of COVID-19 has not been established, it is known that thyroid dysfunction affects immune function and general health, which may impact the outcomes of COVID-19. The research included patients from the Clinic San Carlos Hospital in Madrid, and a comprehensive range of data was collected from each patient, including demographic information, symptoms, comorbidities, and laboratory test results. This approach was employed in order to accurately match patients and identify factors that may influence the severity of COVID-19 outcomes. Blood samples were analyzed using chemiluminescence on a DXI-800® instrument, with the following hormones quantified: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3). These insights contribute to an understanding of the interplay between thyroid function and the severity of COVID-19, highlighting the need for careful patient management in those with thyroid disorders during the pandemic.