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Endocrine Abstracts (2024) 101 PS2-16-02 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.101.PS2-16-02

1Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion, Greece; 2Department of Social Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; 3Department of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; 4Department of Vascular Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; 5Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; 6Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Cambridge, United Kingdom


Background: Psychological distress is elevated in patient with chronic diseases during pandemics such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Data of the impact of common endocrinopathies including thyroid abnormalities on psychological status of patients during pandemics are lacking so far.

Objectives: To compare psychological distress about COVID-19 pandemic, between patients with thyroid diseases and patients with non-endocrine diseases (controls) in the outpatient clinics of the University Hospital, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, using data from a cross-sectional study, the Epitome study in Crete.

Methods: One hundred and eight endocrine patients with thyroid disorders seen at the outpatient Endocrine clinic and two hundred and four controls without endocrinopathies seen at the Dermatology and Vascular Surgery outpatient clinics completed questionnaires about demographics, need for information, sources of information worries about the COVID-19 pandemic and the Greek version of the DASS-21 for psychological distress questionnaire. The levels and prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression about the COVID-19 pandemic between the two groups were compared after controlling for age, gender, education, residence, employment status and ever diagnosed with psychiatric disease in multiple linear regression models. Ethical approval was obtained by Institutional Review Board.

Results: Mean age of patients with thyroid diseases was 49,8 years and controls 45.7 years (P = 0.007), with predominance of women in both groups (P = 0.006). Patients with thyroid diseases. reported significant mean score increase in DASS-21 stress scale (b-coef:2,25; P = 0,053), compared to controls. Interestingly patients with thyroid disease and one or more additional endocrinopathy reported significantly increased prevalence of stress symptoms (b-coef:4,09; P = 0,018). We found no differences in anxiety and depression symptoms between the two groups, which showed low rates of both.

Conclusions: The current study highlights the increase in stress symptoms among patients with thyroid diseases and concurrent endocrinopathies during Covid-19 pandemic. These results are relevant when designing policies on information on pandemics and supportive measures for endocrine patients in General Hospitals.

Volume 101

46th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) 2024

European Thyroid Association 

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