Relationship between thyroid function tests and mortality in severe Covid-19 pneumonia cases admitted to the intensive care unit Severe COVID-19 and thyroid function tests

ABSTRACT

Aim: In severe COVID-19 infection, most organs are affected, including the thyroid gland. A decrease in thyroid functions can be seen in relation to the severity of the disease. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the relationship between thyroid function tests and mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Material(s) and Method(s) The study was performed retrospectively on 46 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data were recorded. Patients were grouped into two according to mortality. Laboratory data were compared between groups. Additionally, the correlation of free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyrotropin (TSH) with infection parameters was investigated. Result(s) At the time of ICU admission, fT3 levels below the normal range were present in 91.3%, fT4 levels were below normal in 39.13%, and TSH levels were below normal in 52.17% of the study patients. There was a positive correlation between fT4 and CRP (r=0.315, p<0.05), while there were no significant correlations between other parameters. TSH, fT3, or fT4 did not differ between patients with and without mortality. Partial arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen was lower in patients with mortality (p=0.015). Discussion(s) Low thyroid hormone levels and TSH are common occurrences in patients admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. No relationship could be shown between low thyroid function test levels and mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.