Research into Covid-19 and thyroid function tests

An important new study looking at thyroid function tests in Covid19 patients was published, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, on 12th November 2020, showing TSH and T4 levels are lowered during Covid19 but return to their original levels once the patient is followed up with afterwards. TSH and thyroid hormone levels are affected by many illnesses which is why you would not normally have a thyroid function test when you know you have a virus or infection of any kind. 

​Read the study here. 

The impact of Covid-19 on those with thyroid disorders

The risk of life threatening complications due to Covid-19 is significantly increased in those with active thyroid eye disease, due to the immune-suppressing medical treatment they must receive to treat their illness.
 
Patients with thyroid disease undergo thyroid function tests regularly to check thyroid function and to ensure they receive the right medication and dosage. Routine tests and most thyroid conditions are not life-threatening, or urgent according to government guidelines and so tests and appointments may be difficult to obtain in the current circumstance we find ourselves in. This has a potentially huge impact on quality of life for people with thyroid disease because if our thyroid hormones go out of kilter we can become extremely unwell, unable to function in some cases and this can happen at any time.
 
The government has postponed all non-urgent surgery and treatments and therefore those awaiting thyroid surgery and radioactive iodine therapy may not be able to proceed with their treatment. Whilst not life threatening in itself, this is understandably highly distressing for those awaiting surgery or other treatment that may provide relief from their symptoms. 1
 
Those with thyroid disorders are already vulnerable due to debilitating symptoms, including cognitive impairment and very inconsistent standards of care and access to treatment options across the country - the impact of Covid-19 on access to healthcare and on mental health could be devastating. We need to be there for those that depend on our advice, support and advocacy now more than ever.  Of particular concern: the ongoing situation regarding access to liothyronine for those patients who need it, which was close to being resolved before the pandemic, is now likely to become increasingly problematic since those responsible for NHS management are understandably focused on Covid-19. 2
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​Changes we’ve made to ensure our services are accessible 

Our popular Information and Support events, supported by National Lottery Awards for All, are now being run online, so that those who rely on what we do can still access the support they need. https://www.thyroidtrust.org/events.html
 
Our community of thyroid patients and supporters are also planning a number of activities, in keeping with lockdown conditions, to promote International Thyroid Awareness Week 25th May – 31st May.  Thyroid patients need to know we are not alone. https://www.thyroidtrust.org/thyroid-awareness-week-2020.html

References

1. https://www.btf-thyroid.org/news/thyroid-disease-and-coronavirus-covid-19
2.  https://www.thyroidtrust.org/liothyronine-dossier-2018.html
3. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/advance-article/doi/10.1210/clinem/dgaa830/5979483 

Covid-19 Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

Page updated 13th November 2020