Prevalence of Hypothyroidism Among Patients With COVID-۱۹ in Tehran City, Iran

Background and Purpose: Numerous comorbidities are involved in the severity of the new coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹). Hypothyroidism’s impact on COVID-۱۹ is yet to be adequately understood. Thyroid disorders are thought to play a role in the development and progress of COVID-۱۹. This study aimed to determine the frequency of hypothyroidism among COVID-۱۹ patients in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Tehran City, Iran. Demographic information and other specified data related to our research, mainly comorbidities, were collected using a structured questionnaire from electronic patient health records. A total of ۴۹۳ medical records of COVID-۱۹ patients were used for this study according to the inclusion criteria. Subsequently, the data were analyzed with SPSS, version ۲۵, using descriptive and analytic statistics. Results: The prevalence of hypothyroidism was ۱۳.۲% (n=۶۵) in hospitalized COVID-۱۹ patients. This was higher (۱۳.۴% vs ۲.۳%) compared with the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the general Iranian population. Overall, in patients with hypothyroidism, about ۲۱ patients (۳۲.۳%) expired, of whom ۱۴ patients (۶۶.۷%) were female, and ۷ (۳۳.۳%) were male. In these patients, no statistically significant difference was observed between the expired and discharged groups (Adjusted Odds Ratio: ۱.۰۴; ۹۵% CI ۰.۵۹-۱.۸۳; P=۰.۸۷). As a result, hypothyroidism was not linked to an increased risk of death. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism in hospitalized COVID-۱۹ patients appears to be low. However, it seems more prevalent in the female gender but without significant adverse effects on the risk of mortality from this disease.