ABSTRACT
Background: Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019, it has affected >200 countries, areas, or territories in 6 continents. At present, whether COVID-19 has an effect on thyroid function is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function in iraqi patients with COVID-19. Methods: Clinical features, laboratory results, and real time PCR were reviewed for 60 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 without a history of thyroid disease. They were admitted to the Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital;Iraq between September and December 2021. Healthy participants who underwent routine physical checkups and non-COVID-19 patients the study as the control group. Thyroid hormone and (TSH), vitamin C levels were determine and compared between the COVID-19 and control groups. Results: TSH lower than the normal range of the patients with COVID-19 Compared to the control group. The levels of TSH and serum triiodothyronine (T3) of the patients with COVID-19 were significantly lower than those of the healthy control group. The lower the TSH and T3 levels were, with statistical significance (p <0.001). The degree of the decreases in TSH and T3 levels was positively correlated with the severity of the disease. The thyroxine (T4) level of the patients with COVID-19 was not significantly different from the control group. A relationship between ascorbate (vitamin C) and COVID-19 severity is well known. Conclusions: The Changing TSH and TT3 hormones in the blood of people with Coronavirus may have a role in the infection and the life cycle of the virus.