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Thyroid Health Following a COVID-19 Infection

June 7, 2023

Research on COVID-19 and thyroid health has indicated a connection between acute COVID-19 and thyroid dysfunction. However, there has been a lack of information regarding the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection on the thyroid. 

Authors of a recent scientific paper investigated thyroid function, autoimmunity, the occurrence of long COVID, and the effect of interferon beta-1b treatment among 250 COVID-19 patients for six months after infection. Researchers used thyroid function tests and anti-thyroid antibody titer measures (measurement of antibody levels) during the acute COVID-19 phase, as well as three and six months after. 

Results showed that patients with abnormal thyroid function test results during the acute phase of a COVID-19 infection are more likely to have persistent thyroid function abnormalities. However, most abnormalities resolved during the follow-up period (82.4%). For patients with normal thyroid function test results during acute-infection, only a small fraction (4.5%) exhibited abnormal thyroid function tests at the three or six month mark. While most patients did not exhibit a change in anti-thyroid antibody levels during the six-month follow-up period, interferon-treated patients did show a slight increase in the anti-thyroid antibody levels. This was the case with the 4.5% of patients who exhibited abnormal thyroid function during follow-up. These numbers suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection does not lead to significant thyroid dysfunction. 

Researchers also observed an increased prevalence of long Covid amongst this patient cohort, with 19.5% and 10.4% of patients experiencing long Covid symptoms at three and six months post-acute infection, respectively. That being said, results of thyroid function tests and anti-thyroid antibody titers did not influence the occurrence of long COVID. 

Authors point out that most patients who took part in the study experienced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms, making results relevant to a wider population. However, this also points to the limitations. For example, results may not apply to all COVID-19 variants since most patients included in the study were infected with the original strain. Additionally, the subgroups analyzed in the study were relatively small, thus warranting additional research with a bigger, more diverse group of participants. 

Authors agree with current recommendations that thyroid function monitoring is unnecessary after a COVID-19 infection, unless patients are being treated with interferon beta-1b or experienced thyroid function abnormalities during acute-infection. 

Citation for report:

Lui, D. T. W., Tsoi, K. H., Lee, C. H., Cheung, C. Y. Y., Fong, C. H. Y., Lee, A. C. H., Tam, A. R., Pang, P., Ho, T. Y., Law, C. Y., Lam, C. W., To, K. K. W., Chow, W. S., Woo, Y. C., Hung, I. F. N., Tan, K. C. B., & Lam, K. S. L. (2023). A prospective follow-up on thyroid function, thyroid autoimmunity and long COVID among 250 COVID-19 survivors. Endocrine, 80(2), 380–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-022-03281-8





Sources

  1. Article Sources and Footnotes

    1. Lui, D. T. W., Tsoi, K. H., Lee, C. H., Cheung, C. Y. Y., Fong, C. H. Y., Lee, A. C. H., Tam, A. R., Pang, P., Ho, T. Y., Law, C. Y., Lam, C. W., To, K. K. W., Chow, W. S., Woo, Y. C., Hung, I. F. N., Tan, K. C. B., & Lam, K. S. L. (2023). A prospective follow-up on thyroid function, thyroid autoimmunity and long COVID among 250 COVID-19 survivors. Endocrine, 80(2), 380–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-022-03281-8