Endocrine Abstracts

Material-Method: We registered from February 26, 2020 until January 23, 2022 (almost 2 years) patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis Hashimoto. Usual parameters for this disease were investigated: age, sex, ATPO, FT4, TSH, ultrasound pattern, antibody evolution, immune associations, lost pregnancies, other clinical associations (alergies, breast cancer). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who had covid-19 (C-19) vs. those who did not have viral disease (NOC). Statistical analysi: Fisher z test (percentage comparisons), X² (discrete data comparisons), T (continuous data comparisons).

Results: I. We registered 456 patients. Of these, 84 had covid-19 (18,24%). The prevalence was extremely high compared to the declared prevalence of covid-19 in Romania: 10,95% (https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/romania/population, https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/romania). Z = 5,43, P<< 0,0001. II. No differences between patient groups: A. Gender: Female: C-19 = 90,13%, NOC = 89,52%; B. Age of onset (mean, years): C-19 = 50,39 years, NOC = 50,94. C. Current age: C-19 = 55,86, NOC = 55,6. D. ATPO level: C-19 = 749,67 IU/ml, NOC = 837,67. E. ATPO evolution: predominantly undulating, 46% vs 67%, X² = 2,88, P= 0,24. F. Thyroid function at onset: C-19: normothyroidism = 41,7%, hypothyroidism = 44%, hyperthyroidism = 14,3%. NOC = normothyroidism = 41,3%, hypothyroidism = 48,95%, hyper = 9,91%. G. Current thyroid function: C-19: normal = 670,8%, hypo = 26,19%, hyper = 3,57%, NOC: normothyroidism = 67,2%, hypothyroidism = 29,84%, hyperthyroidism = 2,96%. H. Pregnancy losses: C-19 = 7,69%, NOC = 13,21%. I. Immune associations: C-19 = 45,23%, NOC = 37,09%, P= 0,16. III. Clinical forms of covid-19. Asymptomatic = 4, oligosymptomatic = 4, mild = 27, moderate = 34, severe = 8, very severe = 5, death = 2. Comparison with the evolution of the Romanian general covid population (Pantea-Stoian et al, 2020, Sci. Rep, 21613) is NOT different, but seemingly lighter. For example, the lethality in our group was only 2,38%, while in the general population it was 2,95%.

Conclusions: Either 1. Derived from the increased prevalence of immune associations - The genetic structure of the mucosal cells of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis allows the attachment of S protein much faster and to lower viral loads (research to be solved for future generations), Either 2. Derived from the lack of difference between groups and set mathematical analysis - the prevalence of covid-19 in Romanian society was not 10,95%, but 18,24%, as it appears in our group of patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis Hashimoto.