Risk of Incident Thyroid Dysfunction in the Post-Acute Phase of COVID-19: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Hong Kong
Main finding · Diagnosed thyroid dysfunction (composite), post-acute phaseResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.058 95% CI 0.979–1.144Authors' conclusion
Our population-based cohort study provided important reassuring data that COVID-19 was unlikely to be associated with persistent effects on thyroid function.
Study context
- Population
- COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 individuals, January 2020–March 2022, electronic medical records of the Hong Kong Hospital Authoritymatched cohort
- Participants
- 84,034 vs 84,034
- Exposure
- COVID-19 vs matched non-COVID-19 controls
- COVID-19n = 84,034
- Controlsn = 84,034reference
- Outcome
- Composite of thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, initiation of antithyroid drug or levothyroxine, and thyroiditis) in the post-acute phase
- Follow-up
- Median 303 days
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched, population-based, 1:1 matched, Cox regression; follow-up until outcome, death, or 31 January 2023
- Propensity-score matched
- Population-based
- 1:1 matched
- Cox regression; follow-up until outcome, death, or 31 January 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Diagnosed thyroid dysfunction (composite), post-acute phase
Hazard ratio
1.058
95% CI 0.979–1.144
P = 0.154
COVID-19vs Controls
HR 1.058 (95% CI 0.979–1.144); P = 0.154
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | HR | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperthyroidism | 1.061 | P = 0.345 |
| Hypothyroidism | 1.062 | P = 0.255 |
| Initiation of antithyroid drug | 1.302 | P = 0.070 |
| Initiation of LT4 | 1.086 | P = 0.426 |
| ThyroiditisNo increased risk | P = 0.252 |
Subgroup and sensitivity analyses
- Largely consistent with the main analyses
Original publication
Risk of Incident Thyroid Dysfunction in the Post-Acute Phase of COVID-19: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Hong Kong. Endocr Pract. Published 28 March 2024. doi:10.
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